LITTLER IS A BIG DEAL

Unknown a year ago, English teen thrower is raising the profile of darts to a whole new level

Luke Littler was virtually unknown a year ago. Now he is making millions, transcending his sport and is searched for more often on Google than King Charles and the British prime minister.

That Littler is a 17-year-old darts player who still lives at home with his parents in northwest England making his rise to fame and increasing fortune all the more remarkable.

It was around this time 12 months ago, with Christmas approaching, when Littler grabbed the attention of Britain and beyond by making an unlikely run to the final of the 2024 World Darts Championship on his tournament debut. He was 16 — though he could easily have passed for double the age — and seemingly without a care in the world, celebrating his victories with doner kebabs and filling his downtime by playing video games.