Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler has said “if I’m on it I can beat anyone” ahead of tonight’s World Darts Championship final.
The 16-year-old, the youngest-ever player to reach the decider of the premier darts tournament, will face fellow Englishman Luke Humphries at Alexandra Palace.
Nicknamed “The Nuke”, Littler is on the cusp of producing one of the greatest sporting stories of all time, which would rival Emma Raducanu winning the US Open when she was 18 in 2021.
Humphries beat Littler the last time they played each other but the teenager fancies his chance this evening, telling Sky Sports: “I had to let him win, I was only 12!”
The teenager has beaten three former world champions on his journey to the final – defeating Christian Kist in his opening game before overcoming one of his heroes, the five-time world champion and darts legend Raymond van Barneveld, to reach the quarter finals.
He defeated the 2018 champion Rob Cross in the semi-final to earn his place in tonight’s historic decider.
“If I’m on it I can beat anyone,” Littler said.
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“It’s not sunk in yet, winning all these games, I’m just letting it go and moving onto the next game.
“It’s unbelievable, I’m not going to set any goals to try and win it tonight.”
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Asked whether he believes tonight’s match will be a classic, he replied: “Hopefully, me and Luke have got a quick rhythm and a quick throw, it’ll suit both of us tonight.”
Littler added that many youngsters are now playing the game and he messages them on social media telling them to “keep it up”.
“It’s crazy what I’ve done for the sport,” he said.
The teenager said his own family were proudest after his 4-1 victory over van Barneveld.
The 16-year-old is already guaranteed £200,000 for making the final – but he has his sights firmly on the £500,000 winner’s jackpot.
Throughout his stunning run to the final, Littler has prepared for each round in unconventional ways, with his love for kebabs and ham and cheese omelettes a mainstay of his routine.
Coming up against world number one Humphries tonight, Littler says he won’t be changing his approach.
“I’ll keep doing what I have been doing,” he said. “I don’t wake up until 12, in the morning go for my ham and cheese omelette, come here and have my pizza, and then go on the practice board.
“It is what I have been doing every day – if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.”
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Who stands in his way?
Before he can think about lifting The Sid Waddell Trophy, he has to overcome the best player on the planet in Humphries.
Humphries delivered one of the best ever performances at the tournament as he whitewashed Scott Williams 6-0 in the semi final.
But even Humphries believes he will have to produce the game of his life on Wednesday night.
“The way he’s played, I’ve seen it many times,” Humphries said of Littler. “When you come up on this stage it can be a lot tougher but he’s just proved he’s got a lot of bottle.
“Nothing is going to faze him. If he plays like he did tonight, tomorrow is not going to faze him at all, so I will probably have to play the game of my life.”
