LUKE LITTLER attracted record viewing figures for his World Darts Championship final against Michael van Gerwen.
The world number two blitzed his opponent to claim his maiden world title – becoming the youngest player to do so.
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Littler, 17, has been a popular figure since appearing on the world stage last year.
He took the darts world by storm and after winning the Premier League and Grand Slam this year became the most googled sports person in the UK.
The teen’s fame saw a peak audience of 3.1million tune into Sky Sports for Friday’s final at Ally Pally.
That is the highest number the broadcaster has attracted for a non-football event since last year’s final between Littler and Luke Humphries, which had a peak of 3.7m.
The Warrington lad is the most famous teenager in the world and has drawn comparisons to other prodigious young talents.
Brazilian football hero Pele scored twice in a 5-2 win over Sweden in the 1958 World Cup Final aged 17.
Tennis ace Boris Becker became the youngest-ever winner of the men’s singles Wimbledon Championship aged 17 in 1985.
And snooker maestro Ronnie O’Sullivan was the same age as Littler when he lifted the 1993 UK Championship, having overcome Stephen Hendry 10-6 in the final in Preston.
Luke Littler prize money breakdown
Here is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after being crowned 2025 PDC World Darts Championship winner:
World Championship 2025 – £500,000
World Championship 2024 – £200,000
Grand Slam of Darts 2024 – £150,000
European Tour – £91,000
Player Championships events – £71,500
Players Championship final runner-up – £60,000
UK Open 2023 + 2024 – £17,500
World Matchplay – £10,000
World Grand Prix – £7,500
European Championship – £7,500
(Unranked) Premier League Darts – £315,000
TOTAL: £1.43 million
The new world No.2 – beaten by Humphries in the 2024 world final – said: “It’s crazy to even think about being mentioned in the same sentence as some of the best sportsmen there’s ever been.
“Even if I had won it last year as a 16-year-old, it would have been incredible.
“But a year later I’ve won the title and it feels a bit crazy.
“This is why we play the game. For the titles. Obviously the money is there. We all know it is.
“But one thing I do enjoy, when I lift the trophy, is when all the confetti comes down and the sparkles go up.
“Obviously, I would love to dominate. I’d love to win everything. But you cannot, it’s tough.”