The glitzy ceremony for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards brought celebration for many, but for darts sensation Luke Littler, it ended on a note of mild astonishment. The 18-year-old prodigy, fresh from a dominant 2025 season, found himself overlooked for the Young Sports Personality of the Year prize—a title he had claimed the previous year. Instead, the honor went to England Lionesses forward Michelle Agyemang, whose dramatic contributions helped secure the Euro 2025 triumph.
Littler, who was also shortlisted for the main Sports Personality award but didn’t crack the top three (where golfer Rory McIlroy ultimately triumphed), took to social media shortly after the announcements. In a post on his Instagram story, he expressed gratitude to his supporters before addressing the young category directly: “Thanks to everyone that voted for me tonight, appreciate it. And for Young SPOTY, wow fair enough.” The succinct “wow” captured a sense of surprise that resonated with fans, hinting at the teenager’s belief that his extraordinary achievements might have edged him ahead once more.
This reaction came as Littler chose to skip the in-person event in Salford, prioritizing practice ahead of his World Darts Championship title defense at Alexandra Palace. Appearing via video link during the broadcast, he explained his absence, noting he was honing his skills at a local darts academy in St Helens. “Yeah, I’m at The Sidac Social sports club in St. Helens,” he shared. “This is where the darts academy is.” His focus remains sharply on the oche, where he’s aiming for back-to-back world crowns after a breakthrough year that redefined expectations in the sport.
Littler’s 2025 has been nothing short of historic. Kicking off with a stunning World Championship victory in January—at just 17 years and 347 days old—he became the youngest ever to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy, defeating Michael van Gerwen in a commanding final. That triumph marked the start of an unstoppable run, as he captured multiple majors including the UK Open, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, and consecutive Grand Slam of Darts titles. Rising to world number one, Littler has not only dominated the professional circuit but also inspired a new generation of fans, boosting darts’ popularity like few before him.
The Young Sports Personality shortlist featured tough competition alongside Littler: Agyemang, whose late equalizers in the Euros quarter-final and semi-final propelled England to glory, earning her Young Player of the Tournament honors; and cricketer Davina Perrin, a fearless batter who shone in the Women’s U19 T20 World Cup. Agyemang, unfortunately sidelined by an ACL injury sustained later in the year, accepted the award on crutches, expressing her own wonder: “Wow. Thank you so much. I am so grateful.”
Despite the double nomination snub, Littler showed sportsmanship in follow-up messages, congratulating McIlroy on his main award: “Well done Rory McIlroy, never in doubt mate unreal year.” Earlier, when asked about his chances for the top prize, Littler had been modest, predicting others would fare better and quipping about his near-misses in majors: “I think I’ve only missed out on four majors this year. So if I won them, do I win it?”
As the darts world turns its attention back to Alexandra Palace, where Littler resumes his campaign soon, his “wow” moment adds another layer to a career already full of drama. The teenager’s blend of raw talent, humility, and occasional candid surprise has endeared him to millions, turning potential disappointment into fuel for future success. With his sights set on defending his world title and chasing more records, Littler’s story is far from over—and the darts community, along with his growing legion of admirers, can’t wait to see what he throws next.
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