Luke Littler acknowledges he's 'broken the rules' during World Darts Championship breakthrough

Luke Littler acknowledges he's 'broken the rules' during World Darts Championship breakthrough

Watch now: Luke Littler on his win at Ally Pally

Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 01/01/2024

- 12:54

Updated: 01/01/2024

- 14:53

Luke Littler has smashed a number of records with his breakthrough run at the PDC World Championship.

Luke Littler is confident he can break even more records at the World Darts Championship having already "broken the rules".

At 16 years of age, Littler is the youngest player to ever win a match in the tournament's illustrious history.


He also achieved the strongest debut of any player at the World Darts Championship with an average of over 106 in his win over Christian Kist.

His remarkable story has now progressed to the point where he's being heavily backed to go all the way and win the tournament.

Luke Littler is looking to become a world champion

Luke Littler is looking to become a world champion

PA

In doing so, Littler would join an illustrious list of sports men and women to become world champions as teenagers.

Pele was 17 years of age when he won the World Cup with Brazil while Boris Becker was just 18 when he clinched his first Wimbledon title.

Emma Raducanu's triumph at the 2021 US Open is arguably the most similar to Littler's run with both players relatively unknown before their remarkable run.

Littler admits to not knowing all of them, but he's already dreaming of joining that list of teenage world champions.

“Unbelievable, the names you have just said,” he said. “I know Mike [Tyson], I only know Pele off FIFA and I don’t know the other ones.

“I have certainly broken the rules and records already but I know if my game is there I can beat even more records.

“My game is there, it is every darting kid’s, man’s, whoever’s dream to win it.

"I have certainly got the game, it is whatever happens on the day, whatever Luke Littler turns up.”

Littler beat former world champion Raymond van Barneveld to reach the quarter-finals - a victory that left the teenager in disbelief.

Luke Littler is through to the quarter-finals

Luke Littler is through to the quarter-finals

PA

"To beat one of my idols on the biggest stage of them all – it’s incredible. I still can’t believe it now,” he said.

“Raymond said to me at the end: ‘I hope you go all the way and after the performance you’ve just put in, you can go all the way.’"

"The thought of becoming the world champion always gives me goosebumps.

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Luke Littler is the youngest match winner at the World Championships

Luke Littler is the youngest match winner at the World Championships

PA

"I've won three world youth titles and this is the biggest one of them all. I'm only three wins away now."

"I wasn't expecting Gary or Gezzy to go out. I would have loved to meet one of them in the quarters, but it's not to be and me Brendan have deserved to get to this stage."

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