Making history has become second nature for Luke Littler, but he remains driven to add more as he aims to go back-to-back at the World Darts Championship.
The teenage sensation has revolutionised the sport, rising in two years from World Championship debutant to world champion and world No 1, with eight major titles to his name. Littler is officially the youngest ever PDC world No 1 at 18 years and 299 days.
Luke Littler’s route to retaining his World title
– Round 1 – Darius Labanauskas
– Round 2 – David Davies or Mario Vandenbogaerde
– Round 3 – Joe Cullen, Bradley Brooks or Mensur Suljovic
– Last 16 – Damon Heta, Raymond van Barneveld or Rob Cross
– Quarter-finals – Chris Dobey or Gerwyn Price
– Semi-finals – Stephen Bunting, Jonny Clayton or Michael Smith
– Final – Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Danny Noppert or Nathan Aspinall
Luke Littler in 2025 so far
– World Championships
– UK Open
– World Matchplay
– World Grand Prix
– Grand Slam of Darts
– Players Championship Finals
Next up, the World Championships…
After clinching his maiden world title at Alexandra Palace in January, Littler’s 2025 season has continued its remarkable trajectory. He added five more majors — the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, UK Open, Grand Slam and Players Championship Finals — and won the Australian Darts Masters, New Zealand Darts Masters, Belgian Darts Open, Flanders Darts Trophy and Players Championship 32.
Now he heads to the Palace aiming to become just the fourth player ever to defend the world title and the first to claim a £1m winners’ cheque.
While ready to perform, Littler admits there will be nerves with history foremost in his mind rather than the prize money. “I was nervous when I wasn’t champion, and now I’m coming in as a reigning champion, there’s just going to be a bit of nerves, but once I get a few legs on the board, I think I’ll be good to go,” he said. “I wouldn’t say worse, because I know what to expect, if I am nervous and start getting the shakes or something, I know what to do, just got to compose yourself, drink your water backstage. Like I said, there’s going to be nerves, 100 per cent. It has been 10 years since someone won this back-to-back, so that’s what’s on my mind, and then I think about the money.”
Despite his haul, Littler plays down suggestions he should already be counted among the sport’s all-time greats. “No, obviously Michael (van Gerwen) and Phil (Taylor), they’ve won two, three, four of everything, I’ve just got to keep going. I’ve got to keep winning titles, I’ve got to keep picking up all those titles of the same kind. We will see where we are.”
Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match live from December 11 to January 3 on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel (Sky channel 407 from December 10). Stream with NOW.