At the age of just 17, Luke Littler became the youngest PDC world darts champion in history with an emphatic victory over Michael van Gerwen at Ally Pally – and his response to winning told the story
At the age of just 17, Luke Littler became the youngest PDC world darts champion in history with an emphatic victory over Michael van Gerwen at Ally Pally – and his response to winning told the story At the age of just 17, Luke Littler became the youngest PDC world darts champion in history with an emphatic victory over Michael van Gerwen at Ally Pally – and his response to winning told the story
Luke Littler is the king of the darts world.
The teenage phenomenon became the sport’s youngest-ever world champion with his remarkable final victory over Michael van Gerwen. The Dutchman, a record-breaking champion in his own right and the best player in the world over the last decade, simply had no answer to ‘The Nuke’.
Twelve months on from his heartbreaking final loss to Luke Humphries – where he led 4-2 only to succumb to a 7-4 defeat – Littler lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy for the first time after dominating MVG in the first half of their heavyweight tussle, rattling into a 4-0 lead, before standing firm to claim a 7-3 triumph. His 102.73 average, 12 180s and stunning 56 per cent checkout rate on the doubles were too much for the three-time champion to keep pace with.
Throughout, Van Gerwen looked shocked, unable to comprehend what was happening. Had he been caught unaware? Did he not think Littler was this good? His face, whenever he merely clung on to hold his throw in those later sets, told its own story.
“Of course it hurts, and I’m an old b***ard compared to him, but I didn’t do myself justice,” said Van Gerwen.
But, in fairness to the Dutchman, it wasn’t that he played badly. Littler was just sensational in getting ahead, took advantage of seemingly every little mistake, and never looked back when he’d taken a stranglehold on the match.
After very friendly matches with Nathan Aspinall and Stephen Bunting in the last eight and final four – lots of hand slaps, fist bumps and smiles – there were questions whether MVG would be able to bully Littler on Ally Pally’s big night. Instead he asserted HIS superiority.
And according to body language expert Judi James, Littler’s dominance extended into his post-match celebrations too – despite his emotions getting the better of him – as he sent a powerful message to his darts rivals.
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She told Mirror Sport: “Despite Luke’s young age his celebratory rituals after his win were very Alpha-traditional and actually very isolational, suggesting clues to his mental strength when it comes to playing.
“His first response was one that more physical sportsmen perform, which was all about a ritual based on the triumph of power and strength, mimicking a win after a physical battle or fight. His muscles clenched as he raised his fists in victory and flexed his arm muscles.
“This would be an intimidatory ritual in the animal kingdom and it suggests Littler feels his win is linked to power, courage and strength and that he is very motivated by the more personal side of the battle and his ability to defeat his opponents.
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“His head dropped though, and he began to show signs of buckling under the joy of the moment.
“This is where his hands begin to be used to physically hold his head and this suggests he’s getting overwhelmed by the pleasure of the win, almost as he feels the experience of the moment is threatening to blow his head off. There is some puffing to allow pressure and any stress to be released and his tears of joy start as his face crumples.
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“His response to his opponent looks confident and even a bit cocky with a curt head nod and an embrace but no breaking down into a more teenage behaviour.
“The physical power signals and his initially rather isolated celebratory ritual and behaviours, where he hunkered in on himself rather than running straight to friends and family show inner determination and an iron will that appears to suggest an emotional maturity way beyond his years.”
At 17, Littler’s only getting started. And that is bad news for the rest.
Mirror – Sport