Following Luke Littler’s famous victory over Michael van Gerwen on Friday, the UK has gone ‘darts mad’, with many shops selling boards and arrows stripped bare
Brits are going darts mad after Luke “The Nuke” Littler became the youngest ever world champ.
Shops have been stripped of all their darts and boards after the 17-year-old’s sensational win over Michael van Gerwen. And a mega five million TV audience, Sky Sports’ biggest ever non-football viewing figures, is expected to be announced after stats are crunched on Friday’s final.
Meanwhile, online megastore Double Top Darts Shop, based in Wokingham, Berks, said the weekend’s been “beyond belief crazy busy,” adding: “His branded products keep selling out, then we get another order in and they sell out as well.”
A shop assistant at Sports Direct, in Wandsworth, London said: “It’s gone mad. People keep coming in and asking for darts, but we’ve sold them all.”
Net World Sports said its revenue on darts products rose almost five-fold in the past year.
Darts is now thought to have its highest number of players since the sport’s 1980s heyday. Darts bosses the PDC said: “The sport is riding the crest of a wave.”
The teenage champion Littler was untouchable at the Alexandra Palace as he taught Michael van Gerwen a darting lesson. Mighty Mike headed into the evening showpiece appearing to be back on his very best form.
But he was no match for the Nuke, who is now the youngest ever winner – besting Mighty Mike’s record when he won his first Sid Waddell trophy at just 24-years-old.
The sensation has skyrocketed to the top of the sport after just over a year on the senior circuit, leaving fans and rivals alike gobsmacked.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here .