Luke Littler, 17, could have 35 YEARS at the top and surpass Phil Taylor – the only thing that can stop him is himself

NOT MANY lager-swilling, kebab-eating, costume-wearing darts fans would person known who Luke Littler was a twelvemonth ago.

Only those who had been paying adjacent attraction to the fortunes of younker darts oregon possibly chanced upon a behind-closed-doors streaming lawsuit would person had him connected their radar.

Occasionally, a glimpse of his genius oregon showboating mightiness person popped up connected a societal media provender but generally, helium could person easy walked down the thoroughfare without hassle.

Fast guardant 12 months and each that has changed – what an incredible, unprecedented and thrilling transformative thrust it has been for Littler.

Two months earlier helium turns 18 – erstwhile helium volition beryllium legally capable to bet, portion and ballot – and determination are fewer places successful the satellite that person not seen Littler successful action.

As legendary referee Russ Bray noted, determination are “people successful distant Guatemalan villages who person heard of” the teen sensation.

Winning the Grand Slam of Darts connected Sunday nighttime was an bonzer accomplishment and lone strengthened his increasing fable and presumption connected the oche.

Arguably helium is the astir breathtaking teen successful satellite sport, having banked much than £1million successful prize wealth crossed 11 months.

Since mid-January, helium has won TEN titles, go Premier League champion, broke galore age-records and celebrated a joint-record FOUR nine-dart finishes.

What helium did astatine Ally Pally past Christmas was exceptional and ground-breaking – helium raced into the satellite last connected his debut and was THREE sets distant from astonishing champion and satellite No.1 Luke Humphries.

But what has been arsenic awesome is however helium has backed it each up – that tally was nary fluke.

And arsenic the countdown to the Paddy Power World Darts Championship hots up – it starts successful 26 days – Littler is the tourney favourite astatine 2/1 to assistance the Sid Waddell Trophy.

Gary Anderson, who Littler bushed successful a last-leg decider successful the Grand Slam of Darts semi-finals, is 36 years older astatine the property of 53.

Phil Taylor, who is present retired, won his 16th satellite crown aged 52.

That means Littler could transportation connected for much than 3 decades and wrack up capable titles – and much bling than Bobby George – to capable the caller household mansion.

The lone happening possibly stopping him is his ain information and tendency and whether helium wants to proceed the hard slog for 10, 20 oregon 30 years, particularly erstwhile determination are galore pitfalls to being a celebrity.

Yet the magnanimous Martin Lukeman – who was thrashed 16-3 successful the Wolverhampton last – was surprised by however his young rival prepared for this showdown.

Former builder Lukeman, 39, said: “The lad is conscionable adjacent level, man. He’s doing the business. He’s looking aft his household – they’ll person a precise bully life.

“He has a Boost, a Meal Deal and a Curry, walks up determination and conscionable smashes maine similar that.

“Ninety-eight per cent of the players down determination are doing what they do. He’s eating Squashies (sweets) for his half-time. I’m having a fag and a water. It’s a joke.

“If helium gets his caput on, hide astir Michael van Gerwen’s records, helium is going to bushed Phil Taylor’s records.

“If helium stays distant from portion and girls, whatever, that lad volition spell very, precise acold and he’ll interruption them ridiculously.”

This was expected to person been a twelvemonth of learning, a accidental to make and dilatory emergence up the rankings.

Many were disquieted astir burnout, particularly arsenic helium approached the 17-week Premier League.

We truly should person known amended than to uncertainty him due to the fact that each situation Littler has encountered successful 2024, helium has dealt with them with implicit maturity and composure.

This twelvemonth helium has gone from 164 successful the satellite to a precocious of 5th – the swiftest ranking emergence by immoderate subordinate successful history.

Many would accidental helium IS the champion subordinate successful the satellite but the PDC Order of Merit is done connected a two-year wealth database – Humphries, Van Gerwen, Smith and Rob Cross person earned much – and helium lone turned nonrecreational successful January.

The scary happening is that helium volition lone get BETTER and possibly 1 time punters volition get bored, similar they did successful Taylor’s pomp, with him winning everything.

Littler – who did his GCSEs past twelvemonth – returned location precocious aft the stunning Grand Slam triumph and successful existent teen style, spent immoderate of his relaxation clip connected his Xbox.

This Thursday, helium travels to Butlin’s Minehead for the Players Championship Finals – archetypal up is simply a conflict with Cross successful circular one.

In November 2023, helium was preparing for the last of the World Youth Championship, which helium claimed by beating Gian van Veen 6-4 to pouch a £10,000 cheque.

If each goes good implicit the adjacent fewer weeks, if helium has different palmy escapade astatine the Worlds, helium volition beryllium satellite No.2 travel January 2, 2025.

The past 2 winners of the Grand Slam – Michael Smith successful 2022 and Humphries successful 2023 – some went connected to go satellite champions respective weeks later.

Who would stake against Littler making it a hat-trick this Christmas?