Luke Littler, the 17-year-old darts prodigy, capped off a sensational first year as a professional by winning the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton. Littler’s dominant 16-3 victory over qualifier Martin Lukeman was a showcase of his remarkable skills. After falling behind 2-0, Littler turned the tide by winning 15 straight legs to lead 15-2. Despite a brief rally from Lukeman, Littler sealed the win with a break of throw in the 19th leg, claiming his first major ranking title and the prestigious Eric Bristow trophy.
The atmosphere surrounding Littler’s victory was electric, with fans enthusiastically singing “Walking in a Littler Wonderland” during his warm-up. However, there was a brief moment of tension when Littler’s 140 score instead of a 180 led to boos from the crowd. Nevertheless, his overall performance, marked by a stunning average of 107.08 in the final and 12 180s throughout the tournament, confirmed his rising star status. His consistent play and impressive scoring have placed him alongside darts legends Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen, who are the only other players to average over 100 in every Grand Slam match.
Littler’s triumph propelled him to fifth in the PDC’s Order of Merit, a meteoric rise from his ranking of 164 just a year ago. For his efforts, Littler earned £150,000 in prize money, pushing his total earnings for the year to £558,500. While he has also secured significant earnings from invitational events like the Premier League of Darts and World Series finals, his Grand Slam win is particularly notable as it counts towards the rankings. Littler shared his delight with Sky Sports, reflecting on how his hard work throughout the week paid off and how meaningful this title was in his career.
Throughout the tournament, Littler demonstrated resilience and determination. He overcame significant challenges, including comebacks in the early rounds against Mike de Decker and a dramatic semi-final win over Gary Anderson, where he rallied from behind to secure a place in the final. His ability to handle pressure and perform when needed, along with his exceptional scoring, was evident throughout. In the final, he outclassed Lukeman with his superior scoring, including 15 140s, and made sure to take full advantage of his opportunities.
Despite the defeat, Lukeman, who was the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam final, praised Littler’s exceptional talent and contribution to the sport. Lukeman’s journey to the final was a surprise, as he started the tournament as a 150-1 outsider. After the match, the pair shared an embrace, and Lukeman expressed admiration for Littler, acknowledging how the young player has brought new fans and sponsorships to the PDC.
Littler’s victory, his 10th of 2024, further solidified his place as one of the sport’s most exciting young talents, and his future in darts looks incredibly bright. With the World Championships on the horizon, Littler enters as one of the favourites, following in the footsteps of recent Grand Slam winners Michael Smith and Luke Humphries, both of whom went on to claim the World Championship title.
