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Luke Littler (Picture: PDC/Taylor Lanning)

Luke Littler on media critics, breaking records on a diet of Squashies and potentially becoming first ever darts player to win SPOTY

By Chris Hammer

Darts

Fri December 13, 2024 · 1M ago

Luke Littler's pre-World Championship interview on his record-breaking 2024 season and how his diet of Squashies could help him win the world title and Sports Personality of the Year.

Record-breaking Luke Littler is favourite to be the youngest ever winner of the PDC World Championship while he's also in the running to become the first ever darts player to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

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Obviously the only goal on his mind right now is to get his hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy at the age of just 17, but the fact he's the chief contender to 800m Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson for the SPOTY prize emphasises just how his remarkable achievements have transcended darts like nobody has ever managed before.

Since finishing runner-up to Luke Humphries back in January and appearing on programmes such as the Jonathan Ross Show following a heroic run that saw him become the most talked about teenager in British sport, he's gone on to win 10 PDC titles including the lucrative Premier League and Grand Slam of Darts which have taken his earnings beyond the £1million barrier.

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That's more than most pros earn in their lifetime.

Littler attended the World Championship draw in London this week and spoke to us about a number of topics including his many highlights but also how he's dealt with unfair media criticism in the wake of a rare poor patch of form back in October that saw him lose to 'former butcher 'Andrew Gilding.

WATCH: LITTLER ON WORLD TITLE HOPES AND SPOTY...ON A DIET OF SQUASHIES!

LITTLER ON SQUASHIES, WORLD TITLE HOPES, SPORTS PERSONALITY AWARD AND MEDIA PRESSURE!

Luke Littler is second fav to become the first darts player ever to win Sports Personality of the Year but Luke Humphries isn't regarded a contender despite all his achievements.

Humphries says he's been invited to SPOTY but feels he should be in the running too.... pic.twitter.com/8V36SoFfy7
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) November 27, 2024

The Warrington ace also talks about becoming just the fourth player ever to win 10 titles in one year, his desire to hit more than one nine-darter at the World Championship and a potential clash with Humphries in the semi-finals of this year's edition which might well be the last at the Alexandra Palace.

Plus he also ponders whether his diet of Squashies could see him pip Olympic champion Hodgkinson to the SPOTY award.

ALSO READ: HOW LUKE LITTLER WON £1MILLION IN ONE YEAR

Luke Littler has already won £1million in total prize money in his debut year with the PDC

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO READ THE FEATURE

On exceeding expectations

"I just wanted to win a few Pro Tours, but obviously winning Bahrain, the World Series, and then it was just European Tours, Pro Tours, and just all the titles I've picked up. It just goes to show how well I've been playing.

"It was good to win Bahrain, the first tournament of 2024. I've put my hands on it and I just had to build from it there and that's what I've done."

Negative media pressure

"I'll be honest, the media did do a lot! But that's what comes of it when I win major titles. They want a piece of it.

"I read a little bit (after losing to 'former butcher' Andrew Gilding at the European Championship), which I shouldn't have done. But that's what happens in darts. You'll you lose a few. But you can't say that ('former butcher') about Andrew - he's a former UK Champion and won a major so it was very tough. To win the Grand Slam off the back of the European was good and to make the final in Minehead. So now I'm just looking forward to the worlds.

Averaging over 100+ 13 times in a row

"It's obviously good to get high average but with the World Championships, it's very different with set play. It's just first three each set.

"So this is one of the tournaments where you've got you really got to push on because you won't be on that stage for an awfully long time."

Sports Personality of the Year hopes

"It would be a big thing for myself. Well, I've not really watched too much of the person in first - is it a runner? People don't really class us as athletes do they?! So if I'm second to her that'll do.

Favourite Squashie?

"At the Grand Slam of Darts it was cherry cola flavour."

Nine-darters

"As a player you know when it's coming, and when you're playing so well.

"Obviously there is a bonus for hitting a nine-darter at the worlds and that's what I'll be looking at doing as well as the trophy."

On proving doubters wrong

"That's why it was good to win Bahrain the first tournament of 2024 and get my hands on it. I just had to I had to build a from there and that's what I did.

"Winning the Premier League was great after everyone said I was too young, that it was going to be too much for me. I was always in the top four and I'm glad I got my hands on the trophy because I felt like I deserved to win."

On winning 10 titles

"I could potentially end the year on 11, couldn't I? But yeah, I've set another record. "I've put my name into the other players who have won ten titles this year.

"But like I said, potentially it could be 11 by next year and I'll try and break the record."

On becoming the youngest world champion

"I know Michael Van Gerwen holds the youngest at 24, so I've got seven years.

"I could just slouch about for six years and then just win it when I'm 24. But no, I'd like to obviously win it before Michael won it. It'd mean everything. So to be the youngest, that's definitely what I'd be looking for.

"I got the runner-up on my first go, but yeah, I'd like to win it. Obviously, everyone wants to win it, but that's why my game is at the minute. I think I can win it.

"I'd like to pick up the trophy, but if not, just have another good run to the final."