Teenage Sensation Reaches Darts Summit
Luke 'The Nuke' Littler has officially become the PDC world number one for the first time in his remarkable career. The 18-year-old darts prodigy achieved this historic milestone after securing a convincing 16-9 victory over Danny Noppert in the Grand Slam of Darts semi-final at Wolverhampton's Aldersley Leisure Village.
Dramatic Semi-Final Sets Up Historic Final
In a match that showcased both resilience and skill, Littler battled back from challenging positions to overcome his Dutch opponent. The young star claimed 10 of the final 11 legs to dramatically reverse the momentum and secure his place in the final. Despite trailing 7-8 at the interval, Littler returned with renewed determination, stunning Noppert with a brilliant 128 checkout immediately after the break.
The match saw several momentum shifts, with Noppert initially surging ahead with an impressive 107 average in the opening stages. However, as the legs reached double figures, Littler's superior consistency began to tell, with Noppert faltering under pressure. The 22nd leg proved crucial as both players missed doubles, but ultimately it was Littler who held his nerve to extend his lead to four legs.
Road to the Top and What Comes Next
Littler's ascent to world number one comes less than two years after turning professional, marking one of the fastest rises in darts history. The achievement is particularly significant given that he squandered an opportunity to claim the top spot last month following his European Championships defeat to James Wade.
Following his semi-final triumph, Littler delivered a powerful seven-word message: "Now world number one but got a bigger match tonight." He later expanded, stating: "It's not even been two years. I haven't spent two years on the tour and I'm already world number one."
The victory guarantees Littler at least £70,000 in prize money, sufficient to surpass former number one Luke Humphries in the order of merit. This means he'll defend his World Darts Championship crown at Alexandra Palace in December as the world's top-ranked player.
Littler now prepares to face Humphries in what promises to be another thrilling Luke vs Luke final, with £150,000 and the Grand Slam title at stake. Humphries earned his place in the final with an impressive 16-13 victory over Gerwyn Price, averaging over 106 in the process.
Looking ahead to the final, Littler expressed confidence, saying: "It's another Luke vs Luke final, some people like it, some people don't. It's going to be another brilliant game. I'm looking forward to it. Not been beaten here, hopefully I can go back-to-back tonight."
