Having played in British Darts Organisation and World Darts Federation events since he was 12, Littler won his first senior title at age 14. He competed in the 2022 WDF World Darts Championship, becoming the youngest player to win a match at a WDF World Championship, before going out in the last 16. After qualifying for the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship through his placement on the Development Tour, he became the youngest player to win a match at a PDC World Championship. A 66/1 outsider before the tournament, he defeated six opponents—including former world champions Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross—en route to the final, where he was defeated by Luke Humphries. In 2025, Littler reached the final for a second consecutive time, where he defeated Michael van Gerwen to win the title.
Littler is the youngest player to hit a televised nine-dart finish, which he achieved at the 2024 Bahrain Darts Masters two days before his 17th birthday. He is also the youngest to hit two televised nine-darters, having hit a second in the 2024 Premier League Darts final at age 17. Littler is the youngest player to hit a broadcast nine-darter, having achieved the feat in 2021 at age 14. Named the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2024,[3] he was also runner-up for BBC Sports Personality of the Year, behind Keely Hodgkinson.[4] His rise to prominence at age 16 led to an increased interest in the sport, a phenomenon dubbed Littlermania.
Littler has been noted for his scoring power, hitting a large number of maximum 180 scores, and his proficiency on the double 10 section of the board's outer ring.
Early life
Born on 21 January 2007, Littler spent his early childhood in Runcorn before moving to nearby Warrington.[5][6] He has two brothers and a sister.[7] He began playing darts when he was 18 months old, after his father bought him a magnetic dart board from a pound shop. He scored his first 180 at the age of six and a nine-dart finish at the age of 13.[8] When he was 10, he joined the St Helens Darts Academy and began playing in under-21 leagues.[9] He was educated at Padgate Academy in Warrington.[10]
Career
Early career
In 2019, Littler won the England Youth Grand Prix and the Isle of Man Masters youth competition, where he was able to defend his title in 2020. The 2020 JDC Tour featured two titles from Littler, with him later winning three titles on the JDC Advanced Tour in 2021.[11] Littler won the youth title at the England Open in September 2021 and finished second in the British Pentathlon.
In November 2021, Littler won his first seniors title at the Irish Open defeating Barry Copeland 6–2 in legs. This qualified Littler for the 2022 WDF World Darts Championship, at the age of 14.[12] At the end of November, during the JDC MVG Masters tournament, he hit a nine-dart finish.[13][14]
2022
Littler won the JDC Super 16 in Milton Keynes at the end of January 2022, beating Eleanor Cairns in the final.[15] In March 2022, he won the youth competition at the Isle Of Man Open and advanced to the finals of the Isle of Man Classic.[16] At the 2022 WDF World Darts Championship, Littler started as a seeded player from second round and won his first match against Ben Hazel 3–2 in sets.[17] He was then beaten 3–0 in sets by Richard Veenstra, who set a record average for a World Championship match at Lakeside.[18]
During the Welsh Open warm-up tournament, Littler hit a 121.86 three-dart average in one of his matches.[19] A day later, he won the final for another senior tournament win in his career. In June 2022, he also won the Romanian Classic, beating Jelle Klaasen in the final by 5–1 in legs. At the 2022 WDF Europe Cup Youth, he won the gold medal in three men's competitions (singles, team and overall). His best achievement was defeating Archie Self in the finals of the singles competition, 6–1 in legs. In the pair competition, together with Archie Self, he lost in the semi-finals, 4–1 in legs to Thomas Banks and Charlie Manby.[20]
At the end of September 2022, Littler was selected by the national federation to participate in the 2022 WDF Europe Cup. On the second day of the tournament, he advanced to the quarter-finals of the pairs competition where he played alongside James Hurrell. They lost to Sam Canket and Nick Kenny from Wales, 4–1 in legs.[21] On the third day of the tournament, he advanced to the quarter-finals of the singles competition, where he lost to Andy Baetens 5–4 in legs.[22] In the team competition, he won the gold medal.[23] In the points classification, as a representative of England, he contributed to winning a gold medal.
Littler made his debut at a PDC major event at the 2023 UK Open, qualifying for the tournament via an amateur qualifying event organised by Rileys.[28] Littler reached the fourth round, the best showing of a Rileys qualifier at the tournament alongside Thomas Banks. Littler lost his fourth-round match to eventual semi-finalist Adam Gawlas 10–8.[29]
Littler competed in the 2023 PDC Development Tour series. He won event three – defeating Jurjen van der Velde 5–1 in the final, event five – defeating Kevin Troppmann 5–3 in the final,[30] and event sixteen – defeating Bradly Roes 5–2 in the final.[31] Littler also won event twenty, where he achieved a three-dart average of 115.22 in his last-32 win against Lewy Williams,[32] hit a nine-dart finish in his last-16 win against Rune van Damme and defeated Gian van Veen 5–4 in the final.[33] Littler won his fifth Development Tour title at event 24, defeating Cameron Crabtree 5–1 in the final. Littler finished second on the 2023 Development Tour Order of Merit with £20,175.[34][35][36][37]
In May 2023, Littler won the third season of the MODUS Super Series, defeating Jacob Taylor 4–1 in legs in the final.[41] In August 2023, he won the fourth season of the MODUS Super Series, defeating Colin Osborne 4–2 in the final.[42]
2024
Littler made his first World Championship appearance at the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship, held from 15 December 2023 to 3 January 2024, qualifying as a result of his placement in the PDC Development Tour. He started off as an outsider with 66/1 odds.[43] In the fourth round, he beat five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld 4–1.[44][45][46] Littler then defeated former world champion Rob Cross 6–2 in the semi-final.[47][48][49] In the final, Littler lost 4–7 to Luke Humphries.[50] This made him the youngest player to reach the PDC World Darts Championship final, as he was aged 16 years and 347 days.[51]
Following the World Championship, Littler was announced to be part of the 2024 Premier League as one of the four chosen wildcards.[72][73] Littler won his debut match against Luke Humphries 6–2,[74] but lost his semi-final match 6–5.[75] Littler reached the final in week two, but lost to Michael van Gerwen 6–5.[76]
Night nine saw Littler win a Premier League night for the first time, beating Nathan Aspinall 6–4 in the final.[77] Littler then won three more nights to top the table in the league phase after the 16 weeks.[78][79][80][81] This meant that in the play-offs Littler played Michael Smith, who he defeated 10–5 in the semi-final. He then won his first major title, beating Humphries 11–7 in the final.[82][83] He became the youngest player to win a major PDC tournament. Littler also hit a nine-darter in the final.[84]
Littler at a press conference during the 2025 World Championship
2025
Littler qualified for the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship as the fourth seed. He received a bye to the second round as a top-32-seeded player.[85][86] In the second round, Littler defeated Ryan Meikle 3–1 in sets, breaking the record for the highest set average in a World Championship match by averaging 140.91 in the fourth and final set, missing double 12 for a nine-darter in the second leg of set 4.[87][88] Littler qualified for the final by defeating Meikle, Ian White, Ryan Joyce, Nathan Aspinall and Stephen Bunting. In the final on 3 January 2025, Littler defeated three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen 7–3 in sets. Aged 17 years and 347 days,[89] Littler became the youngest ever PDC World Darts Champion, breaking the record previously held by van Gerwen, who was 24 when he won his first world title in 2014.[90][91] Littler also won the Ballon d'Art trophy for the most 180s scored in the World Championship.[92] He broke £1,000,000 on the PDC Order of Merit for the first time and moved up to a career highest ranking of second in the world, behind Luke Humphries.[93]
Littler has been noted for his heavy scoring during matches, frequently hitting the maximum score of 180.[95] Using darts manufactured by Target with characteristically long 45mm points,[96] Littler plays at a quick pace[97] and is known for his efficiency in checking out on the double 10 segment.[98][99][100]
Personal life
As Littler rose to public prominence during the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship, he and his then-girlfriend Eloise Milburn (who played darts on the PDC Women's Series in 2023 and 2024)[101] received backlash for their age difference, as he was 16 and she was 21.[102] Milburn's mother defended her after she received abuse online and was called a "gold digger".[103][104][105] Littler told The Daily Telegraph that he would "stick with [Milburn] whether people like it or not",[106] though they ended their relationship in July 2024.[107]
Following Littler's unexpected run to the final at the 2024 PDC World Championship, an unprecedented number of new fans began to both play and watch darts,[126][127][128][129] and a record high of 3.7 million viewers watched the 2024 world final.[130][131] The president of the Professional Darts Corporation, Barry Hearn, attributed this phenomenon to Littler's success and described it as "Littlermania".[132]
Littler is friends with popular Twitch streamer and YouTuberMorgan Burtwistle, also known as AngryGinge. Littler has been seen in many livestreams and videos on Burtwistle's channel, where he plays football and plays video games.[133] On February 7, 2025, Littler played Burtwistle on livestream in a game of darts, where he won against Burtwistle, 3–2.[134]
↑ Before the start of the 2023 WDF World Darts Championship Littler had to choose between playing in the 2023 WDF World Darts Championship or the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship. He choose the latter.
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(18 February 2025) [1] 
