Luke Littler becomes world No.1 in darts
Luke Littler has officially become the new world No.1 in darts, just 22 months after turning professional, completing one of the most astonishing rises ever seen in the sport, reports BritPanorama.
The 18-year-old has surged from teenage newcomer to the top of the global rankings in less than two years, a trajectory that many seasoned observers say has no precedent. Littler will replace rival Luke Humphries at the top of the PDC rankings after reaching the Grand Slam of Darts final.
His place in the final was secured with a gritty 16–9 victory over Dutch player Danny Noppert, where Littler averaged 102.62 and sealed the win with a confident double top. As the winning dart landed, he offered a smirk that hinted at the self-belief now radiating through his game.
Although many fans already regarded him as the world’s best after he lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy earlier this year, Littler had been reluctant to declare himself No. 1 while Humphries held the official ranking. “It’s not even been two years,” the Warrington teenager said. “I’ve not even spent two years on the tour and I am already world No. 1.”
With this achievement, Littler now holds the world title, the No. 1 ranking, and has earned over £1.7 million in prize money across two seasons. His semi-final against Noppert saw a shaky start, as Littler fell 2–0 behind due to crowd distractions but responded with a strong performance to take control of the match.
Tonight, he faces Humphries, 30, for the £153,500 top prize, including a £3,500 group bonus, but the more significant battle in the rankings has already been settled in Littler’s favour. As the young star continues to rewrite the record books, the darting world keenly awaits what comes next in his burgeoning career.
