Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler is set to see a significant portion of his historic £1 million prize money disappear due to UK tax laws, but he has a swift opportunity to bolster his finances again this month.
The Tax Take on a Million-Pound Payday
After a dominant 7-1 victory over Gian van Veen at Alexandra Palace on Saturday night, Luke Littler secured his second consecutive PDC World Darts Championship title. The 18-year-old's triumph made him the first player to claim the tournament's £1 million top prize, which was doubled from the previous year's amount.
However, the UK's taxman will claim a large share. Littler's winnings will be subject to the additional income tax rate of 45%, likely generating a bill of around £450,000. When National Insurance contributions are added, the total deduction is expected to reach approximately £470,000.
Immediate Chance to Boost the Bank Balance
Despite the hefty tax liability, Littler won't have to wait long to start recouping some of that sum. The world champion is scheduled to compete in the Bahrain Darts Masters, which begins on January 15.
Littler, known as 'The Nuke', won this World Series event in 2024, defeating Michael van Gerwen in the final to secure a £30,000 prize. He now returns as a 10-time PDC major winner.
Speaking to talkSPORT about his packed January schedule, Littler said: "We fly out to Bahrain next Sunday, so obviously we'll have five, six days off and then we're back on the road... I want to go and try and win that title in Bahrain once again."
Dominance and a Drive for More Titles
Should he succeed in Bahrain, Littler will have just a few days before the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters starts in Riyadh on January 19. He expressed his motivation to set a marker by winning the first Saudi Arabian World Series event.
After the back-to-back tournaments, Littler plans a short break in Dubai with his family and girlfriend before continuing his quest to rule the sport. Following his latest world championship win, he boldly stated his ambition: "I want to dominate everything, I want to try to win everything."
With many already tipping him to challenge Phil Taylor's record of 16 world titles, Luke Littler's focus is now on the immediate future, starting with his title defence in the Middle East later this month.
