Luke Littler’s rise ‘beyond anything expected’, childhood coach says

Luke Littler’s childhood coach said the darts sensation had the “biggest potential I’ve ever seen” but has still done “better than I expected” after he lifted back-to-back World Championship titles.

‘The Nuke’ thrashed Gian van Veen 7-1 in his third appearance in the PDC World Championship final in as many years – and he is still only 18.

The darts ace from Warrington became only the fourth player to have won World titles two years running.

Karl Holden who co-founded the St Helens Darts Academy where Littler honed his skills from the age of nine and runs the St Helens Darts Shop, said the “natural talent” was “an amazing player”.

Mr Holden said Littler had “the biggest potential I’ve ever seen, but he still does better than I expect him to do.

“He’s an amazing player, he has so much confidence and he just turns it on when he has to do.

“Only special people can do that.”

He said St Helens now boasts two junior academies as does his prodigy’s home town of Warrington – and both are full with waiting lists to get in thanks to the Littler effect.

“It’s all down to him,” Mr Holden said.

Customers at Mr Holden’s shop were celebrating Littler’s latest success.

Budding darts star, Keelan, who plays at a darts academy, said: “It’s great to see a local hero.”

The 14-year-old said: “I think it will inspire all the kids that want to be a dart player when they’re older.

Mark Shaw said he “steamrolled” the 23-year-old Dutchman Van Veen who was playing in his first World final.

Although he took the first set, Littler served up a masterclass, averaging 106.02 and sealing the title and its £1m prize money with a 147 checkout.

Even the infamous Ally Pally wasp – which saw Littler ducking and diving at the oche to avoid it – was unable to stop his tear up at Alexandra Palace as his next dart was a treble 19.

Mr Shaw, 54, said “the pressure was too much” for Van Veen.

He added Littler “did amazingly well”.

Jade Pettiner, 27, and Adam Kenyon, 29, watched Saturday’s explosive final together.

“Everybody’s been inspired by him doing it at such a young age,” Mr Kenyon said.

Kelly, nine, had full confidence in ‘The Nuke’.

“I knew he was going to win because he’s the best,” the darts fan said.

Noah, 10, said Littler was “probably going to be the next Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor who won a total of 16 world titles – two British Darts Organisation (BDO) titles and 14 Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) crowns.