Luke Littler’s astonishing World Darts Championship win at the age of 17 will not be a one-off according to PDC boss Barry Hearn.
Luke Littler capped off a stunning first year on the PDC Tour by capturing his first World Darts Championship at the second time of asking.
The Nuke’s 7-3 victory over Michael van Gerwen ensured he put the disappointing 2024 final loss against Luke Humphries behind him.
The 17-year-old has been a revelation in the PDC, winning the Grand Slam of Darts and the Premier League at the first time of asking.
A debut year has not been as impressive since Adrian Lewis stormed onto the scene in 2005, but PDC boss Barry Hearn has warned there could be a lot more to come from darts’ youngsters.
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Barry Hearn claims Luke Littler’s inspired ‘tsunami’ of young talent
After his remarkable run to the 2024 World Darts Championship final, Littler transgressed the world of darts to become an international celebrity.
The teenager was the most googled sportsperson in 2024 and its star is only on the rise with his World Championship win.
PDC boss Barry Hearn believes Littler has inspired countless youngsters to join the game and has warned they could be even better than The Nuke.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Hearn compared Littler to golf superstar Tiger Woods, saying: “Tiger was playing golf at two. Littler has been playing darts since birth almost it seems like.
“The similarities are there. Littler is bringing in a whole audience of youngsters, commercially he’s a huge success, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.
“The guys coming through are going to knock your teeth out. Littler is not just a once-in-a-generation prodigy.
“He’s the guy holding the flag for the next generation of superstars and they are coming through in huge numbers.”
Hearn claimed the talent on the junior tour could mean another three or four Littler-style players join the PDC in the next few years.
He said: “We’ve already seen the start of it. On the junior tour, these kids are ten years old throwing nine-darters.
“Because of the interest, predominantly from Littler and his success story, kids are being inspired and their parents are encouraging them.
“Trust me when I say, in the next five years, we have a tsunami of talent that will change the game.”
The PDC has already seen an influx of impressive young talent over the last few years, with Mike De Decker winning his maiden major and the likes of Gian Van Veen and Wessel Nijman impressing on the big stages.
Luke Littler happy to be a fore-bearer of the game
Littler is happy to be the face of the sport and is delighted to see so many young stars pick up the arrows after his debut year.
After picking up the Young Sports Personality of the Year, The Nuke said: “I have changed the sport of darts.
“I know the amount of academies that have been brought up in different locations, tickets selling out at Ally Pally in hours, and the Premier League selling out – it just shows how much I have changed it.”
Littler’s next appearance in the PDC is at the Bahrain Darts Masters on January 16 where he will look to defend his title.