Global oche superstar Luke Littler is chasing a dream clean sweep for the season after ticking the World Cup of Darts off his ever-shrinking PDC to-do list last weekend.
Together with Luke Humphries, the English duo accomplished expectation and, once they got up and running, turbo-charged their way to triumph with all the inevitability of finding somebody filming a fight vertically on a mobile phone.
Now, with just the European Championship omitted from the teenager’s darting résumé, another question burns stronger than a cheap barbecue left unattended by somebody called Gaz with a history of arson – can he win the lot in 2026? On that point, the teenager said:
“Obviously all the talk now is: Am I going to lift every major this year? If I keep playing the way I do, then yeah, I’ve got a brilliant chance.”
Truthfully – why not?
After all, so far this season, aside from the Euro Tour events he occasionally can’t be arsed attending and a few World Series exhibitions, he has hoovered up silverware like Pac-Man on crack after the little ghosts abandoned their posts and disappeared on an all-day bender.
Yes, Phil Taylor practically annexed trophies every year. Michael van Gerwen almost completed the lot a decade ago. But right now, The Nuke is halfway to a season that would make statisticians sweat profusely into their spreadsheets. Five down, five to go. If your occupation involves polishing trophies, Littler employing you at the moment is the equivalent of landing the Cristiano Ronaldo of cleaning contracts.
Starting very early in January, the World Championship was captured alongside a record-breaking £1 million cheque hidden inside the Sid Waddell Trophy like the world’s most lucrative Kinder Egg surprise. Most players would happily retire after banking that. Not this kid. He picks up titles more frequently than most teenagers pick their noses.
Then there was the small matter of Milton Keynes and the World Masters. Another box ticked. Down to Minehead to retain the UK Open crown. Job done there too. A month ago, The Nuke secured his second Premier League title in just three years. And now, after lifting the World Cup alongside Cool Hand, only Gian van Veen’s European Championship triumph remains between Littler and a complete set. Quite frankly, he’s hunting major titles with the enthusiasm Vladimir Putin reserves for maps.
Speaking after his maiden World Cup victory, the 19-year-old humbly acknowledged his brilliant partner, Humphries by saying:
“But this is not only my night, it’s both our nights together and we celebrate together.”
Then came the news every other nation wanted to avoid hearing like a dentist announcing he has found “something interesting”.
“Will I be back next year? 100 percent. There’s no point winning it and not coming back. We know we can score, finish and win together. We’ll be back next year.”
Onto a different sport now. Despite approximately half the population of FIFA World Cup host nation America appearing to have less awareness of the football tournament in their own backyard than they do of the mating habits of Peruvian alpacas, Littler is fully aware of proceedings.
Yes, he supports Manchester United which, as a non-Mancunian, means responsibility ultimately falls upon the parents. There are some things children simply absorb. Others are inherited. Like curly hair, allergies or a lifelong commitment to emotional suffering every Saturday afternoon. Putting this one firmly on you, Anthony.
Most footballers love their arrows. So does Littler believe England’s World Cup of Darts triumph can inspire the Three Lions? Seemingly so:
“If it gives (England) 5%, then happy days. I mean they’ve got a great chance.
“England in the men’s World Cup in football, they aren’t the favourites. We were the favourites here. We rightly did our job and picked up the trophy. It’d be really, really nice. We have had a lot of messages off people, saying: ‘Oh, we’d love England to do the double.’
“We’ve done our part. We’d love to see them do their part, but it’s going to be tough for them. There’s so many great nations in it. It’s going to be tough. We’ll back them all the way and hopefully they can go on and do what we did.”
I’m not entirely sure which England side Littler has been watching recently. I can only assume youthful optimism and a sensible decision to avoid actually watching us play. Let’s face it, England fans possess a level of blind faith usually reserved for people convinced Elvis is alive and works part-time in a Greggs somewhere near Barnsley. When I am watching the two Luke’s smash it up on the oche, my eyes are glued to the TV. But with the national football team lately, it makes me want to scoop them out with a teaspoon covered in chilli.
That said, somebody other than Celtic or Rangers almost won the Scottish Premiership recently, which is roughly as improbable as me break-dancing on the Moon next year in nothing but my boxer shorts and a pair of Crocs. Whenever I hear It’s Coming Home, I automatically assume the next line should probably contain the word not.
As for Luke Littler, why can’t he win the lot? There are plenty of elite and massively talented arrow-smiths out there – none more so than the man he just lifted the World Cup alongside. The standard at the top of the sport is more brutal than internet comments underneath a referee’s decision.
But right now, The Nuke looks like the bloke everyone else desperately hopes catches a cold, loses his sat-nav, or accidentally leaves his darts in the Travelodge wardrobe.
Because at this moment in time, stopping Luke Littler seems about as straightforward as Chizzy explaining quantum physics.
