I confronted Luke Littler’s dad over his remedy of his son when he was simply 12, says darts rival Nathan Aspinall

Luke Littler may just be the most exciting talent darts has ever seen, but one of his rivals has revealed their surprise at his father’s tough-love approach when The Nuke was just 12 years old.

Littler has become arguably the most talented teenager since Wayne Rooney to emerge in the English sporting landscape, and consolidated that with a majestic World Championship win last week.

He defeat three-time champion Michael van Gerwen – considered the best player of his generation by many – 7-3 in a stunning show of skill, having reached his second successive final. 

Littler has gone on to transform the face of darts and breathe new life and attention into the sport, shattering records, dart boards and TV viewing figures along the way, picking up the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year for 2024 for good measure. 

However one of his rivals, Nathan Aspinall, who he beat on the way to his Alexandra Palace triumph last week, has opened up on the first time he ever came across The Nuke, and how his father Anthony has shaped this prodigious talent. 

‘The first time I came across Luke, I think it was in Chester in a tournament and I beat him 4-3,’ said The Asp. 

Luke Littler’s father Anthony (right) helped shape the prodigious talent with tough love early in his career

Littler (left, aged 12) was already facing some of the best in the game in Luke Humphries (right) and Nathan Aspinall when he was still at school

Nathan Aspinall has spoken about his first meeting with Littler with The Nuke aged just 12

‘I think he was aged four! No, he was around 12 and wow, I just thought “Who is this kid?”

‘I remember seeing his dad with him and he was dead critical of him because he’d lost.

‘I was thinking mate, he’s 12, and I was in the top 16 in the world at that time. I said “Give him a break”.

‘His dad said: “No, he needs to learn”.

‘That hard talk over the years has probably produced one of the best players in our sport.

‘He’s amazing and what else can you say?’ 

Littler is now one of the most marketable figures in sport in England after his meteoric rise to superstardom following last year’s World Darts Championship run. 

Given his age, there has been plenty of talk of Littler taking on Phil Taylor’s legendary record of 16 World Championship wins, and the Power offered the teenager some advice following his staggering win. 

Aspinall was one of Littler’s victims on his way to a stunning World Darts Championship crown

Anthony has been in Littler’s corner throughout his career and was there to give his son some words of encouragement before Friday’s final

‘If I could give him one piece of advice, or one tip to help him stay at the top, it wouldn’t be anything to do with his darts or the way he navigates his way around the board,’ he said via the Sun.

‘I would tell him shoes. If you’re not standing comfortably on the oche, you’re not going to hit a target the size of your little fingernail, so make sure your shoes fit perfectly — and take two or three pairs with you everywhere.

‘And sleep. Make sure you get enough rest.

‘I still take a mattress topper with me everywhere I go because some hotel beds are like sleeping in the middle of the road. 

‘Your darts won’t go where you want them to land if you are bleary-eyed after a restless night.’

Taylor says the sky’s the limit for Littler and his success just depends on how much work he’s willing to put in. 

‘It’s entirely up to Luke how long he plays, how dedicated he remains and how many titles he wins,’ the 64-year-old added. 

‘For now, just let the kid play. He’s a world champion at 17 years old, the youngest to do it by a mile, and he’s just brilliant.

Darts legend Phil Taylor believes Luke Littler can beat his record 16 World Championships

‘When people ask how many world titles he can win, don’t forget he has all the time in the world if he wants it.

‘I was nearly 30 when I won my first world championship — and Paul Lim won more than twice as much as me for hitting a nine-darter as I got for winning the whole thing.

‘To win 16 of them in a 23-year period took a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifices.

‘Only Luke himself knows, deep down, if he is prepared to put in the hours, and it’s entirely up to him whether he wins another one, or five, or 15, 16, 17 and goes past me. But he’s young enough to do it.’