Luke Littler has turned making history into routine, but the teenage champion says he still wants more as he attempts to defend his World Darts Championship crown.
In just two years Littler has transformed the sport, going from World Championship debutant to world champion and world No 1. Officially the youngest ever PDC world No 1 at 18 years and 299 days, he already has eight major titles to his name.
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
After winning his first world title at Alexandra Palace in January, Littler’s 2025 season only accelerated. He added five more majors — the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, UK Open, Grand Slam and Players Championship Finals — and lifted events including the Australian Darts Masters, New Zealand Darts Masters, Belgian Darts Open, Flanders Darts Trophy and Players Championship 32.
Now he returns to the Palace with the chance to become only the fourth player ever to defend the world title and the first to take home a £1m winners’ cheque. That target sits at the front of his mind even more than the money.
He expects nerves as he starts the defence but says experience will calm him once he gets going. ‘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,’ he said. ‘Once I get a few legs on the board I think I’ll be good to go. If I do start getting the shakes I know what to do — compose yourself, drink your water backstage. There’s going to be nerves, 100 per cent. It’s been 10 years since someone won back-to-back, so that’s what’s on my mind.’
Despite his haul of titles, Littler is cautious about comparisons with the game’s greats. He pointed to the records of Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor and said he still has to keep winning the same events consistently before claiming a place among the all-time elite.
Watch every match of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship live from December 11 to January 3 on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel (Sky channel 407 from December 10). Stream matches with NOW.