Luke Littler has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of darts since reaching the final of the World Darts Championship earlier this year, and he shows no signs of slowing down any time soon
Luke Littler is on track to become a millionaire by the age of 18, according to former PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
Littler’s rise to fame has been swift and impressive, with a string of successes since his breakthrough of reaching the final of the World Darts Championship earlier this year. Despite losing 7-4 to Luke Humphries at Alexandra Palace, he has more than made up for that defeat in subsequent tournaments.
Nicknamed ‘The Nuke’, Littler has amassed an impressive £364,500 in tournament winnings as per the PDC’s Order of Merit, placing him 21st in the rankings. This figure does not include his earnings from non-ranked events, which include £315,000 from the Premier League, £80,000 from his World Series of Darts titles success, and other non-ranked tournaments.
Given these staggering figures, it’s hardly surprising that Hearn predicts the young star could become a millionaire next year. Speaking on The Barry Hearn show, the 76-year-old said: “Yeah I think it could be this year. Yeah I think so. I am pre-judging his performances, but I’d be surprised if he didn’t to be honest with you.
“There is darts players out there already earning well over £1million – £2million per year as it is. That is where the sport has got to and for Luke and the sport, it is only just the beginning. We’ve got opportunities to commercially expand that sport, and the joy when these kids faces.
“Without building Luke Littler up too much, he is one of them stars who people identify with.” Despite his tender years, with his 18th birthday on the horizon for January 21, Littler has already notched up a series of successes that many seasoned professionals can only dream of.
Following a setback at the world championship, Littler bounced back to triumph at the Bahrain Darts Masters in January. His remarkable run continued in the Premier League, where he topped the table and went on to defeat Luke Humphries on finals night.
Littler’s recent TV victories include clinching the World Series of Darts title, where he overpowered Michael Smith with an 11-4 win at the AFAS Live in Amsterdam. His trophy cabinet from this debut season with the PDC also boasts the Belgian Darts Open, Austrian Darts Open, the Polish Masters, and numerous Pro Tour events.
With a string of high-stakes tournaments on the cards, including the World Series of Darts and the Grand Slam, Littler’s financial gains are set to soar, reports the Mirror. And as the World Darts Championship makes its return, all eyes will be on the young prodigy as one of the top contenders vying for the staggering £500,000 prize.
Leave a Reply