Luke Littler has announced he is taking a break from darts on social media - but fans believe there is a twist to the tale.
The 18-year-old has dominated the sport since breaking onto the scene at the World Darts Championship in 2024, where he reached the final before losing to Luke Humphries.
He has since won nearly everything - including the 2025 World Darts Championship, as well as the Premier League, World Matchplay, Grand Slam and UK Open.
But the youngster announced on his personal Instagram page that he is set to take a break from darts, though all might not be what it seems.
Luke Littler has announced a break from darts - or has he?
|In a post on social media with overlaying sombre piano music, the Nuke started his video by saying: "I've had an awesome career. Couldn't ask much better for myself.
"It has been full on for two years, I've done many great things. The Premier League at age 17 on debut. The nine-darters on telly. Winning the World Championship at 18, the youngest to ever do it.
"I just want to say thanks to all my fans, the support over the past few years has been phenomenal.
"It'll shock some people that I am taking a step back. It has not been an easy decision, now I want to focus on something I really, really love."
However, after walking off camera, a muffled voice can be heard saying: "Do you think they'll fall for that?"
The post subsequently comes a day before the release of EAFC 26, formerly known as the FIFA games, the popular football simulation video game that Littler is a known fan of.
Many fans seem to have cottoned on to this fact and swarmed the comments section.
One fan replied: "EA FC 26 COMES OUT TOMORROW early release."
Another posted: "FC out tomorrow."
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And a third said: "Bro is having a break for FIFA."
While this sleuth wrote: "It’s just banter because fifa is out, he’s just going to play for abit then he will be back for the World Champs."
This fan said: "Bro pls tell me its just a short break for Ea Sports Fc."
And another reply read: "The amount of people you are fooling with this is going to be legendary."
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Luke Littler might be having us all on after his latest announcement on social media
|PA
As for taking a break, Littler is showing no signs of taking his foot off the gas and travels to Budapest to take part in the Hungarian Darts Trophy.
There he will face Joe Cullen on Saturday while Michael van Gerwen will begin his title defence against Andrew Gilding.