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The Irish Sun
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Luke Littler appears to try new tactic with World Darts champion, 18, ‘hating' former favourite double
DARTS fans reckon Luke Littler has seemingly abandoned his trademark shot selection. The 18-year-old became famed for routinely nailing Double 10 with ease during his miraculous rise to world title contention. 2 Luke Littler became famed for nonchalantly hitting Double 10 during his rise to fame Credit: GETTY 2 But the 18-year-old has seemingly ditched what used to be his bread and butter Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK But judging from his most recent outings, including at the Poland Open, the 18-year-old has seemingly changed tact and opted not to go for Double 10 as much. The change hasn't gone unnoticed by fans, one of whom wrote on X: " "Going for 6-D8 on 22 is strange of him, but going for the 25 on 57 to leave D16 (On 82, first dart already in the 25) instead of just playing 17 Tops is incredible. "Btw, on the 57 he's hit the BULL to leave 7." READ MORE DARTS NEWS Another said: "Littler playing class as always, acted a bit wierd today tho, can only assume he was having a bad day on tops and d10. And another said: "He might try to switch the doubles because tops didn't go so well the last few months." One darts fan theorised: "I wonder if he's trying to get better at D16 ready for the Grand Prix. "Last year he kept going for tops and didn't do great, whereas many others get in on D16." Most read in Sport JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Luke Littler prize money breakdown Here is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after being crowned 2025 PDC World Darts Championship winner: World Championship 2025 - £500,000 World Championship 2024 - £200,000 Grand Slam of Darts 2024 - £150,000 European Tour - £91,000 Player Championships events - £71,500 Players Championship final runner-up - £60,000 UK Open 2023 + 2024 - £17,500 World Matchplay - £10,000 World Grand Prix - £7,500 European Championship - £7,500 (Unranked) Premier League Darts - £315,000 TOTAL: £1.43 million Littler began his defence of the Poland Darts Masters title on Friday with a 6-4 win over the Czech Republic 's Karel Sedlack. He'll be back in action this evening in an all-English clash against Nathan Aspinall. Luke Littler launches new McDonald's burger as darts sensation, 18, adds fast food giants to lucrative brand deals Littler recently revealed he's still tormented by the pain of letting the Darts Premier League title slip through his grasp. He said: "I'll probably say the Premier League final against Luke [Humphries]. 'Yeah, because I was 5-2 up and I knew we would go off for a break after 10 legs, so we've still got 3 legs to play. 'So, I said to myself, if you go 7-3 up or 6-4 up, then I'm happy, but I went into the break at 5-5. 'I was fuming and then he just went on and won it. 'He definitely did up his game, because I'm pretty sure after the break, I think he went 7-5 up. 'So he came on stage, won the next two legs. I was just thinking what was going on.'
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Luke Littler appears to try new tactic with World Darts champion, 18, ‘hating' former favourite double
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DARTS fans reckon Luke Littler has seemingly abandoned his trademark shot selection. The 18-year-old became famed for routinely nailing Double 10 with ease during his miraculous rise to world title contention. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Luke Littler became famed for nonchalantly hitting Double 10 during his rise to fame Credit: GETTY 2 But the 18-year-old has seemingly ditched what used to be his bread and butter Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK But judging from his most recent outings, including at the Poland Open, the 18-year-old has seemingly changed tact and opted not to go for Double 10 as much. The change hasn't gone unnoticed by fans, one of whom wrote on X: "Luke Littler hates Tops and D10 for some reason now. "Going for 6-D8 on 22 is strange of him, but going for the 25 on 57 to leave D16 (On 82, first dart already in the 25) instead of just playing 17 Tops is incredible. "Btw, on the 57 he's hit the BULL to leave 7." Another said: "Littler playing class as always, acted a bit wierd today tho, can only assume he was having a bad day on tops and d10. And another said: "He might try to switch the doubles because tops didn't go so well the last few months." One darts fan theorised: "I wonder if he's trying to get better at D16 ready for the Grand Prix. "Last year he kept going for tops and didn't do great, whereas many others get in on D16." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Luke Littler prize money breakdown Here is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after being crowned 2025 PDC World Darts Championship winner: World Championship 2025 - £500,000 World Championship 2024 - £200,000 Grand Slam of Darts 2024 - £150,000 European Tour - £91,000 Player Championships events - £71,500 Players Championship final runner-up - £60,000 UK Open 2023 + 2024 - £17,500 World Matchplay - £10,000 World Grand Prix - £7,500 European Championship - £7,500 (Unranked) Premier League Darts - £315,000 TOTAL: £1.43 million Littler began his defence of the Poland Darts Masters title on Friday with a 6-4 win over the Czech Republic's Karel Sedlack. He'll be back in action this evening in an all-English clash against Nathan Aspinall. Luke Littler launches new McDonald's burger as darts sensation, 18, adds fast food giants to lucrative brand deals Littler recently revealed he's still tormented by the pain of letting the Darts Premier League title slip through his grasp. He said: "I'll probably say the Premier League final against Luke [Humphries]. 'Yeah, because I was 5-2 up and I knew we would go off for a break after 10 legs, so we've still got 3 legs to play. 'So, I said to myself, if you go 7-3 up or 6-4 up, then I'm happy, but I went into the break at 5-5. 'I was fuming and then he just went on and won it. 'He definitely did up his game, because I'm pretty sure after the break, I think he went 7-5 up. 'So he came on stage, won the next two legs. I was just thinking what was going on.'
Wales Online
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Luke Littler bites back at darts legend who claimed he 'doesn't deserve' MBE before deleting post
Luke Littler bites back at darts legend who claimed he 'doesn't deserve' MBE before deleting post Luke Littler is the youngest-ever winner of the PDC World Darts Championship and was named in King Charles III's Birthday Honours list to receive an MBE, which Dennis Priestley didn't agree with Luke Littler has responded to Dennis Priestley's comments (Image: Andrew Redington, Getty Images ) Luke Littler has boldly hit back at Dennis Priestly by claiming he's achieved "more in 12 months" in the world of darts than the veteran ever did. It comes after Priestley suggested that the young darting phenom doesn't merit an MBE. At the age of 18, Littler has already become a household name in the sport with a meteoric rise. He notched up a historic win at the PDC World Championship in January, becoming the youngest player to lift the title after triumphing over Michael van Gerwen in the final. Now ranked as the world No. 2 in the PDC Order of Merit, right behind compatriot Luke Humphries, the rookie pro has had an enviable start to his professional career. Littler's achievements already include winning the UK Open, a Grand Slam title and the Premier League Darts championship, as well as his World Championship crown. But the criticism from former two-time world champ Priestley came after a surprising upset at the World Cup of Darts last week for Littler and Humphries. Having been tipped to carry England to glory, they were dispatched with an 8-4 defeat by Germany's duo Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko in their first round. The loss was unexpected, given Humphries' success in last year's tournament, partnered with Michael Smith, where he secured the trophy against Austria's Rowby-John Rodriguez and Mensur Suljovic. Littler and Luke Humphries are set to receive MBEs following King Charles III's latest Birthday Honours list, recognising their contributions to the sport. However, 74-year-old Priestley would hold off on such high commendations. Article continues below Following their disappointing World Cup performance, Priestley told OLBG: "Luke Littler and Luke Humphries let their country down at the World Cup of Darts, from what we've heard they weren't sitting together or practising together. Dennis Priestley has had his say on Luke Littler's MBE (Image: Getty Images ) "When I was playing in pairs with Phil Taylor we practised together and sat together, we played all over the world and I only remember us getting beaten once. "To be brutally honest, I don't think either Luke Littler or Luke Humphries have done enough to earn their MBEs just yet. I think in time they could've done enough to warrant it but it feels very early, they have both won one World Championship each and are still young in their careers. "Littler has been recognised for raising the popularity of darts which is great, but he can still do so much more. If he is getting an MBE this soon then you'd have to think he is on the right path to a knighthood, nothing would surprise me now." Luke Humphries and Luke Littler crashed out of the World Cup of Darts (Image: PA ) However, Littler hit back at Priestley's comments on Instagram, as he posted a story in response to an article surrounding the former pro's comments. "Don't deserve an MBE but done more in 12 months than he ever did... that's what I would say," Littler wrote before seemingly deleting the post from his story. Darts icon Priestley was a founding member of the PDC. He boasts a storied career including a WDF World Championship in 1991 and a subsequent PDC world title. Article continues below However, Littler's swift ascent in the sport has been remarkable. The teenager has already won multiple trophies and succeeded in attracting new fans to the sport.
Scottish Sun
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
The telling sign Luke Littler and Luke Humphries lacked ‘camaraderie' backstage pointed out by World Cup of Darts star
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GERWYN PRICE laughed that England were 'rubbish' and didn't play as a team in their World Cup defeat. The World No.11 lifted the lid on Luke Humphries and Luke Littler's lack of 'connection' before crashing out to hosts Germany on Saturday night. 3 Luke Littler and Luke Humphries suffered a shock World Cup of Darts exit at the hands of Germany Credit: X@SKYSPORTSDARTS 3 Both men were way off the mark in last Saturday's slaying at the hands of Germany Credit: Getty 3 Finalist Gerwyn Price reckons the pair's lack of a connection led to their downfall Credit: GETTY Price and Jonny Clayton lost an epic final to Northern Ireland and then The Iceman opened up his feelings on where it went so wrong for the English pair. He said: 'I think you need a connection. I think you need to have that camaraderie off the stage. 'When all the teams first turned up on the first day, the only two players who didn't turn up together, didn't sit together, didn't play as a team. 'I'm not saying who they are. But they didn't win their first game. 'But you need to turn up together. You need to be as a team. "You practice together, you sit together, it's a team ethic. 'It didn't show with England and it showed on the board. 'They are great players individually. But you need to be a team. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Luke Littler prize money breakdown Here is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after being crowned 2025 PDC World Darts Championship winner: World Championship 2025 - £500,000 World Championship 2024 - £200,000 Grand Slam of Darts 2024 - £150,000 European Tour - £91,000 Player Championships events - £71,500 Players Championship final runner-up - £60,000 UK Open 2023 + 2024 - £17,500 World Matchplay - £10,000 World Grand Prix - £7,500 European Championship - £7,500 (Unranked) Premier League Darts - £315,000 TOTAL: £1.43 million 'I wanted them to do well but they didn't. I'm not just saying that. "But they were rubbish!' Luke Littler and Luke Humphries BOOED by German crowd on day they got their MBEs but fans love their 's---house' walk-on Price also admitted that Northern Ireland deserved to win their first-ever World Cup title. He added: 'I don't think we were at our best but we dug deep and we got it to nine-all. 'Being 7-5 up, the crucial leg was to go 8-5 up. We bombed that. 'We chased the game most of the night. Josh (Rock) was hitting treble after treble. "It's tough to hold them back. It wasn't meant to be. We'll come back fighting.'
The Irish Sun
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
The telling sign Luke Littler and Luke Humphries lacked ‘camaraderie' backstage pointed out by World Cup of Darts star
GERWYN PRICE laughed that England were 'rubbish' and didn't play as a team in their World Cup defeat. The World No.11 lifted the lid on Luke Humphries and 3 Luke Littler and Luke Humphries suffered a shock World Cup of Darts exit at the hands of Germany Credit: X@SKYSPORTSDARTS 3 Both men were way off the mark in last Saturday's slaying at the hands of Germany Credit: Getty 3 Finalist Gerwyn Price reckons the pair's lack of a connection led to their downfall Credit: GETTY Price and Jonny Clayton lost an epic final to Northern Ireland and then The Iceman opened up his feelings on where it went so wrong for the English pair. He said: 'I think you need a connection. I think you need to have that camaraderie off the stage. 'When all the teams first turned up on the first day, the only two players who didn't turn up together, didn't sit together, didn't play as a team. 'I'm not saying who they are. But they didn't win their first game. READ MORE DARTS NEWS 'But you need to turn up together. You need to be as a team. "You practice together, you sit together, it's a team ethic. 'It didn't show with England and it showed on the board. 'They are great players individually. But you need to be a team. Most read in Sport JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Luke Littler prize money breakdown Here is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after being crowned 2025 PDC World Darts Championship winner: World Championship 2025 - £500,000 World Championship 2024 - £200,000 Grand Slam of Darts 2024 - £150,000 European Tour - £91,000 Player Championships events - £71,500 Players Championship final runner-up - £60,000 UK Open 2023 + 2024 - £17,500 World Matchplay - £10,000 World Grand Prix - £7,500 European Championship - £7,500 (Unranked) Premier League Darts - £315,000 TOTAL: £1.43 million 'I wanted them to do well but they didn't. I'm not just saying that. "But they were rubbish!' Luke Littler and Luke Humphries BOOED by German crowd on day they got their MBEs but fans love their 's---house' walk-on Northern Ireland deserved to win their first-ever World Cup title. He added: 'I don't think we were at our best but we dug deep and we got it to nine-all. 'Being 7-5 up, the crucial leg was to go 8-5 up. We bombed that. 'We chased the game most of the night. Josh (Rock) was hitting treble after treble. "It's tough to hold them back. It wasn't meant to be. We'll come back fighting.'
