LUKE LITTLER INTERVIEW: Teen sensation explains how he spent his first 12 hours as a world champion as he revels at receiving message from David Beckham and reveals what car he has set his eyes on after £500k win

Luke Littler’s voice is hoarse when we meet at the Hilton in Angel, Islington, just twelve hours after being crowned the youngest world champion in history at 9.54pm the night before.

Not because he’s hungover. No, no. Too young to be drinking beer at 17, as we all know. Whatever fun was had when Eric Bristow and Jocky Wilson won their first world title, this was a PG party in comparison after beating Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in front of 3,200 fans at Alexandra Palace and a peak audience of 3.1 million people watching from home.

It’s because he was up until 2.30am, eating fizzy stuff, scrolling through his socials, chilling with family including mum Lisa and dad Anthony, and then waking up from 6.30am. He couldn’t sleep because the notifications came in by the hundreds, draining his battery to the last percentage. It is then that this miracle of Warrington reveals the favorite message he received overnight.

“David Beckham,” says Littler, a Manchester United fan. “He said ‘well done’ and I said ‘thanks’. It’s crazy. It’s been a long three weeks here in London. I only slept four hours. But it’s done. I can’t wait to get home and recharge.”

It’s statements like these that will do little to dispel the growing suspicion that ‘Luke the Nuke’ is in fact a robot built to achieve domination after such a spectacular ascent.

But really, as he sits with the Sid Waddell Trophy to his left, and the Ballon d’Art award to his right for achieving the most maximums at Ally Pally, there are reminders that this is just a kid whose seen transition. prince to king.

The teenager was moved to tears after beating Michael van Gerwen in Friday evening’s final

He received a congratulatory message from David Beckham for the success

He likes to tell us his favorite tunes before confronting Van Gerwen, for example. “House music,” he says. ‘Ever since I played Martin Lukeman in the Grand Slam final (a 16-3 win for Littler in November), I’ve been listening to his walk-on song, Lip Up Fatty by Bad Manners.’ No, neither do I, but out of politeness we pretend we know it’s a blast. He also seriously says that he can’t wait to get back into his own bed after such a long absence.

Littler is the nonpareil in throwing and yet there is no hubris. Bristow once said that he “eats two bowls of confidence for breakfast every morning.” If you asked Littler the same question, he’d probably quote Corn Flakes with a straight face. It’s all candor and no cockiness, even as footage of his winning dart in double 16 is shown on the Sky News television screen in the Hilton breakfast room as guests tuck into their croissants.

These highlights are proof that it happened, but Littler is still coming to terms with it. Perhaps it will dawn on you when the Professional Darts Corporation hands over its £500,000 profits.

“I’ve always loved a Mercedes A-Class,” he says of a possible gift to himself. ‘Last year I was looking at driving and I liked Ford Focuses. But now I’ve risen a little bit in the world.’

And yet Littler doesn’t have a driver’s license because he still has to find the time to take his classes amid all his world travels, with Bahrain the next destination in two weeks.

“I’ll have to do it before I’m in my 20s because then it’s too late and I don’t feel like doing it anymore,” he says of learning to drive. “Why we play the game is because of the titles. The money is there, we all know that. But the one thing I like when I win is how all the confetti comes down and the glitter goes up.”

Littler is told that Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a statement. “I didn’t know that.” Yes, indeed. It’s a long speech. One of Starmer’s better ones, to be honest. It is read to Littler, who was too young to even vote in the general election. “It’s great to know that not only people like David Beckham are watching, but the Prime Minister too, that’s great,” says Littler, who can now say he belongs to the pantheon of teenage sensations alongside Pele, Boris Becker and Lester Piggott . . “It’s crazy to even think about being mentioned in the same sentence as some of the best athletes to ever live,” he adds.

Littler continued to look at his family as he stood on the Ally Pally stage, and especially at his old man, Anthony. “My dad looked so calm the whole game,” he remembers. “When I looked at him, he didn’t look nervous. So I knew for myself that if he is not nervous, I just had to play with freedom. I look at everyone who is there. But he’s probably the most important. He said last night that he wasn’t nervous, but at 4-0 he started to get that feeling in his stomach.’

Although he cannot drive, he is considering buying a Mercedes A-Class with the prize money

“I enjoy it when I win because all the confetti is coming down,” Littler said of his win

He also revealed how he regularly looked at dad Anthony (right) during the final

We all did as Littler approached history. It’s one world title behind us, and who knows how many more will follow. Van Gerwen has won three, but the wider focus is on Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor and his record 16 wins. “If deep down I want it, then I could potentially do it,” he says.

‘I just want to win every title. That’s obviously what people will be looking at (Taylor’s 16 world titles) after winning my first world title so young. If I want it, I’m sure I can do it deep down.’

It’s time to check out of the Hilton, the comforts of home finally await Littler, where no more cameras are shoved in his face. Unfortunately for his rivals, they won’t get rid of the new doyen of darts so easily. This 17 year old showstopper is here to stay.