Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler has opened up about the pivotal childhood medical intervention that he believes helped pave his way to becoming the world's best player.
The Surgery That Sharpened His Sight
The 18-year-old world champion underwent an operation to correct strabismus, commonly known as a squint or cross eye, when he was just four or five years old. The procedure took place at Warrington Hospital and was something his parents were keen to have done.
Littler admits his life in darts might have been very different without the surgery. "Well, who knows? It's one of those things, obviously, it had to be sorted," he reflected. "My mum and dad wanted that sorted."
While the young phenom has few memories of the event itself, he recognises its significance. "I don't have many memories of that happening... But yeah, now we're all good," Littler stated, acknowledging the critical importance of eyesight in a sport demanding millimetre-perfect accuracy.
From Hospital to World Champion
The surgery has clearly paid extraordinary dividends. Littler now possesses what fans and pundits call 'treble-20 vision', a reference to the smallest and most valuable segment on a darts board. This laser-like precision has propelled him to the summit of the sport in a breathtakingly short time.
He clinched the historic World Darts Championship title in January and now prepares to defend his crown. The tournament resumes at London's iconic Alexandra Palace on Saturday, where Littler will continue his quest to retain the Sid Waddell Trophy.
Darts: The Unrivalled Christmas Spectacle
With the Ashes series concluded and Premier League football taking a festive break, Littler is adamant that the Ally Pally championship is the number one sporting event of the holiday season.
"I mean, just tune in," he urged fans. "Obviously, the sport has taken off, leaps and bounds. And obviously, Christmas is darts."
He added with a champion's confidence: "There's football going on as well. But all I see is that Christmas is for darts. And yeah, if anyone's not watching it at the minute, then you should turn it on after Christmas."
As Littler steps back into the spotlight, his story serves as a remarkable reminder of how early support and medical care can help unlock world-class talent, turning a child with a correctable condition into a sporting superstar captivating the nation.
