LUKE LITTLER INTERVIEW: Teen sensation explains how he spent his first 12 hours as a world champion as he revels at receiving message from David Beckham and divulges what automobile he has set his eyes on after £500k win

Luke Littler‘s voice is croaking as we meet at the Hilton in Angel, Islington, barely 12 hours on from his coronation as the youngest world champion in history at 9.54pm the night before.

Not because he is hungover. No, no. Too young for beer-swilling at 17, as we all know. Whatever jollies were had when Eric Bristow and Jocky Wilson won their first world titles, this was a PG celebration by comparison after crushing Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in front of 3,200 fans at Alexandra Palace and a peak audience of 3.1million watching from home.

It is because he was up until 2.30am, on the fizzy stuff, scrolling his socials, chilling with family including mum Lisa and dad Anthony, and then awake from 6.30am. He couldn’t sleep as the notifications were coming in their hundreds, zapping his battery to its last percentage. It is then that this wonder from Warrington reveals the favourite message he received overnight.

‘David Beckham,’ says Littler, a Manchester United fan. ‘He said “well done” and I said “thank you”. It is crazy. It’s been a long three weeks here in London. I’ve only had four hours’ sleep. But it’s job done. I can’t wait to go home and recharge.’

It is statements such as that which will do little to dissuade the growing suspicion that ‘Luke the Nuke’ is in fact a robot built for darting domination after such a spectacular ascent.

But really, as he sits with the Sid Waddell Trophy on his left, and the Ballon d’Art award on his right for racking up the most maximums at Ally Pally, there are reminders that this is merely a kid who we have watched transition from prince to king.

Luke Littler has revealed how he spent his first 12 house as the darts world champion

The teenager was brought to tears after beating Michael van Gerwen in Friday night’s final

He received a congratulations message from David Beckham on the back of the success

He excites at telling us his tunes of choice before walking on to face Van Gerwen, for example. ‘House music,’ he says. ‘Since playing Martin Lukeman in the Grand Slam final (in November, a 16-3 win for Littler), I listen to his walk-on song, Lip Up Fatty by Bad Manners.’ No, me neither, but we pretend we know it’s a banger out of politeness. He is also earnest in saying he cannot wait to get back in his own bed after so long away.

Littler is the nonpareil in the field of flinging and yet there is no hubris. Bristow once said he eats ‘two bowls of confidence for breakfast each morning’. If you asked Littler that same question, he’d probably cite Cornflakes with a straight face. It is all candour and no cockiness, even as footage of his winning dart into double 16 is being shown on the television screen broadcasting Sky News in the Hilton’s breakfast room while guests tuck into their croissants.

Those highlights are proof that it happened, but Littler is still coming to terms with it all. Maybe it will sink in when the Professional Darts Corporation wire over his £500,000 winnings.

‘I’ve always loved a Mercedes A-Class,’ he says of a potential present to himself. ‘Last year I was looking at driving and I loved Ford Focuses. But now, I’ve gone up in the world just a little.’

And yet, Littler does not have a driving licence, as he has still to find the time to do his lessons amid all of his globetrotting, with Bahrain his next destination in two weeks’ time.

‘I’m going to have to do it before I get into my twenties when it’ll be too late and I can’t be bothered,’ he says of learning how to drive. ‘Why we play the game is for the titles. The money is there, we all know it is. But the one thing I do enjoy when I win is how all the confetti comes down and the sparkles go up.’

Littler is told that the Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a statement. ‘I didn’t know that.’ Yes, indeed. It’s a lengthy speech. One of Starmer’s better ones, truth be told. It is read to Littler, who was too young to even vote in the general election. 

‘It’s big to know that not only the likes of David Beckham are watching, but the Prime Minister too, that’s amazing,’ responds Littler, who can now say he is among the pantheon of teenage sensations, alongside Pele, Boris Becker and Lester Piggott. ‘It’s crazy to even think about being mentioned in the same sentence as some of the best sportsmen there’s ever been,’ he adds.

Though he can’t drive, he is debating buying a Mercedes A-Class with the prize money

‘I do enjoy when I win is how all the confetti comes down,’ Littler said of his victory

He also revealed how he regularly looked over to dad Anthony (right) during the final

Littler kept looking over at his family while on stage at Ally Pally and particularly his old man, Anthony. ‘My dad looked so settled throughout the game,’ he remembers. 

‘When I was looking over to him, he didn’t look nervous. So I knew myself that if he’s not nervous then I just need to play with freedom. I look at everyone who’s there. But he’s probably the main one. He said last night that he wasn’t nervous but at 4-0, he started to get that feeling in his stomach.’ 

We all did as Littler closed in on history. It is one world title down, and who knows how many more will follow. Van Gerwen has won three, but the wider focus is on Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor and his record haul of 16. ‘If I want it, deep down, then I could potentially do it,’ he says.

‘I just want to pick up every title. Obviously that’s what people will looking into (Taylor’s 16 world titles) after winning my first world title so young. If I want it, then I’m sure deep down I can go do it.’

It is checkout time at the Hilton, home comforts awaiting Littler at last, where no more cameras will be shoved in his face. Unfortunately for his rivals, they will not get rid of the new doyen of darts as easily. This 17-year-old showstopper is here to stay.