Littler: I can hunt down Phil Taylor's title count
Luke Littler believes he can catch Phil Taylor’s record of 16 world titles after becoming the youngest ever PDC world darts champion.
Asked what he hoped to achieve next after securing his first world title, Littler told Sky News: “I’ve said previously, if I can win every major title in my career then I’ll be happy.
“I’d like to add on the world titles, and deep down, if I want to break the record ofPhil Taylor, I’ve got the ability to.
“If I want it, I’m sure I can do it.”
Phil Taylor holds the record with 16 world titlesCredit: Rex
Littler was kicked out of his darts academy aged 13
Childhood coach Karl Holden toldBBC Sport that he booted Littler out of his academy for simply being too good.
He said: "It might sound bad but we sort of got rid of him out of the academy.
"He knows we didn't mean that in a nasty way. It was like, 'Don't come here no more. You're just too good.'
"When he was 13 he was just too good for the Under-21s. He was never going to achieve anything there so we was just saying, 'Go and beat all the men in the world.'"
Liverpool face Manchester United with a 23-point gap between the sides in thePremier Leaguetable.
Littler has declared his attention to parade his World Darts Championship trophy at Old Trafford after he became the youngest person in history to win the prestigious honour.
Luke Littler reveals the five words Michael van Gerwen said to him last night
The Nuke, 17, became the youngest world champion in history with his thrilling 7-3 victory over MVG.
After taking a moment to try and wrap his head around his achievement, Littler walked back across to shake hands with the Dutchman.
The pair embraced and Mighty Mike was spotted talking into Littler's ear as the youngster wiped his face before shaking hands with the officials and collecting his darts.
Littler told talkSPORT: "Yeah, he said just enjoy it.
"But then he went over slightly to the side, and he said, 'Keep crying boy, keep crying.'
Littler could not hide his reaction when it was announced he would pick up a cheque for a staggering £500,000.
And then in the Ally Pally car park, the new champ was snapped generously sharing a large sum of money with his brother.
The Littler family, including his parents Lisa and Anthony, walked out of the North London arena to get into a taxi.
But just as they were hopping in, Luke - in a blue hoody - seemingly handed over the wad of notes for Leon Littler.
The jubilant clan were unsurprisingly all smiles upon leaving after the final, no doubt heading off to celebrate the teenage sensation's remarkable achievement.
Eighteen days before his 18th birthday, the boy became king.
In a dead-eyed display which made William Tell look like Elmer Fudd, Luke Littler confirmed himself as the finest arrow-slinger on the planet and the youngest world darts champion of all time.
Littler broke the record set by his opponent, Michael Van Gerwen, who won the first of his world titles aged 24.
But the phenomenal darting manchild did more than that. He broke the spirit of the finest player of the previous generation.
The man from the Netherlands had no answer to a kid in Never-Never Land, as Luke the Nuke ran out a 7-3 winner.
Eighteen days before his 18th birthday, the boy became king.
In a dead-eyed display which made William Tell look like Elmer Fudd, Luke Littler confirmed himself as the finest arrow-slinger on the planet and the youngest world darts champion of all time.
Littler broke the record set by his opponent, Michael Van Gerwen, who won the first of his world titles aged 24.
But the phenomenal darting manchild did more than that. He broke the spirit of the finest player of the previous generation.
The man from the Netherlands had no answer to a kid in Never-Never Land, as Luke the Nuke ran out a 7-3 winner.
William Hill have slashed the odds of Luke Littler to become the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year.
He finished runner-up in last month's award after a stunning breakthrough year but is now fancied to go one better.
William Hill spokesperson, Lee Phelps, said: “Luke Littler has lit up the oche over the last 12 months. He picked up second place in SPOTY last year, and having gone one better at Ally Pally by becoming the youngest ever winner of the World Darts Championship he’s now just 6/4 to be crowned 2025’s Sports Personality.
“He’s the most backed sportsman on the SPOTY shortlist as things stand, with Lando Norris (7/2) and Lewis Hamilton (7/1) next. There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and December but toppling Littler in the race to be named SPOTY 2025 will take some doing.”
Viewers praised Sky Sports for the "lovely touch" of ending their World Darts Championship coverage with a tribute to Donna Mardle.
The wife of five-time world semi-finalist and Sky presenter Wayne died last month aged 52 after a short illness.
Mardle, 51, stepped back from his much-respected commentary following the tragic loss of Donna, 22 years after they wed.
And darts fans appreciated Sky rounding off the night at the Ally Pally - following Luke Littler's historic final triumph over Michael van Gerwen - with a "really nice tribute" to Donna.
One viewer called it a "touch of class" and another said: "Thinking of him and his family and hope to hear him on comms when the Premier League is back."
A third wrote: "Well done Luke Littler and well done on Sky Sports for that tribute just at the end to Donna Mardle."
Luke Littler's rise continues to move more rapidly than pal Lando Norris tearing around a race track.
The teenage sensation, still only 17, has taken the darts world by storm - conquering all in front of him.
His spectacular victory over Michael van Gerwen to win the World Darts Final confirmed his place as one of sport's greatest prodigies.
Littler has also become a millionaire in just 12 months - thanks to success on the oche, as well as savvy sponsorship deals. Winning the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and starring on the ITV reboot of Bullseye over the Christmas period has thrusted him into popular culture outside of the arrows.
And his historic victory at Ally Pally on Friday night has cemented his place as one of the nation's favourites.
