Luke Littler made history as he was handed the Sid Waddell Trophy by former track cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and personally congratulated by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after becoming the youngest-ever PDC World Darts Champion.
The 17-year-old star from Warrington produced a dominant display to defeat three-time champion Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final at Alexandra Palace on Friday evening.
Littler was overcome with emotion after landing a D16 to win the final in front of a packed-out arena. The youngster burst into tears before turning to the crowd and throwing his fists into the air in celebration.
Hoy – who was an ambassador for Paddy Power’s BIGGER 180 campaign, asking all men to check their risk of Prostate Cancer using Prostate Cancer’s online risk checker – awarded Littler the trophy. Hoy has been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer and has revealed he has just a few years left to live.
The Olympic great has been diagnosed with primary cancer in his prostate which then spread to his bones. He revealed late last year that he was being treated for an unspecified type of cancer and was ‘optimistic, positive and surrounded by love’.
Paddy Power donated a total of £1,027,000 to Prostate Cancer UK on the back of the 180s this tournament. £1,000 was handed over for each 180, with there 907 in total. Two nine-darters added £120,000 to the total.
Luke Littler made history as he was handed the Sid Waddell Trophy by former track cyclist Chris Hoy after becoming the youngest-ever PDC World Darts Champion
Hoy has been given two to four years to live on the back of a late prostate cancer diagnosis
Littler produced a dominant display to defeat three-time champion Michael van Gerwen 7-3
‘I’m doing well. I’m in the best shape I’ve been in in over a year,’ Hoy told Sky Sports News last year. ‘I’m physically not in any pain at all. Treatment has worked really well. Everything is stable. I couldn’t have responded better to the treatment available.
‘I’m very grateful. It’s been an unimaginable year. 18 months ago, if you had told me this was coming up, you couldn’t have imagined it. That’s life, isn’t it? You get curveballs. It’s how you deal with it. You make a plan and you move forward.
‘I’m so lucky to have genuinely amazing people around me, from family, friends, medical support, the general public you have really propped us up and lifted our spirits. I feel very fortunate in that respect.’
Starmer, meanwhile, praised Littler’s performance as ‘mesmerising’ and ‘inspirational,’ writing in a statement: ‘Congratulations Luke on being the youngest ever PDC World Darts Champion.
‘An inspirational performance under such pressure to lift the trophy. You should be really proud of what you’ve achieved tonight, not just for yourself but for the sport of darts as a whole.’
Littler’s victory capped a meteoric rise over the last 12 months, during which he won 10 titles, including the Premier League and Grand Slam of Darts.
This triumph was especially significant, avenging his defeat in last year’s final to Luke Humphries and cementing his status as a dominant force in the sport.
The final, billed as a clash of the sport’s biggest stars, was one-sided from the outset. Littler raced into a 4-0 lead, taking 12 of the first 15 legs with an average of 102.73, 12 180s, and a clinical 56 per cent success rate on doubles.
Littler was also personally congratulated by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (pictured)
Starmer took to social media to congratulate the teenager on his historic achievement
Littler was brought to tears as he secured his final shot of the game to become world champion
Van Gerwen, despite a spirited fightback with moments like a 132 checkout, struggled with missed doubles early on and couldn’t match Littler’s scoring power.
The match was effectively decided in the opening 30 minutes, with Littler staying composed under pressure. He sealed victory on double 16, sinking to his knees in tears as the crowd erupted.
‘I can’t believe it,’ Littler said post-match. ‘Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy, and to actually do it is incredible. I said I needed a quick start, and I got it, but Michael was always there behind me. To get it done when I did was special.’
Van Gerwen, a three-time world champion, graciously acknowledged Littler’s superiority on the night.
‘Fair play to him, every chance he got, he took it,’ the Dutchman said. ‘Of course it hurts, but that’s part of being a sportsman. He’s a star, and he deserved it.’
