19-year-old Charlie Manby sets record with monster average of 130: "Didn’t all hit me until everything started blowing up"

He is only 19 years old, has just set a phenomenal record and has a promising future ahead of him. And no, we're not talking about Luke Littler.

Charlie Manby's name suddenly went around the darts world last weekend after his impressive performance on the Development Tour. The young darter needed only 49 dart to beat Patrick Williams 4-0, achieving an unprecedented average score of 130.70. This is the highest average ever on the Development Tour and even surpasses the record of Littler, who was stuck at 115.22.

During the match, Manby was unaware that he was making history. It wasn't until the comments poured in that he realized the impact of his achievement.

“I knew I was throwing well but I never expected that when the game was done, to see an average of 130,” Manby said to Express Sport. “I think even when I finished the game it didn’t all hit me until everything started blowing up."

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“It was a great moment when I actually realised about my average and the record. It’s a great stat to have, and I’m really proud of myself for doing it.”

Despite his impressive record result, Manby did not win the tournament. In the final, he lost 5-2 to Owen Bates, a defeat that ensured he kept both feet on the ground.

“I won the game, but at the end of the day, I didn’t win the tournament,” he acknowledged.  “I didn’t play badly (against Bates). Maybe the average got to my head a bit straight afterwards, but I don’t think it had much to do with me losing the final. Owen played very well.

“I try not to let anything affect me when I’m in the zone. I always try and keep both on the ground.”

Inspired by Littler

The comparison to Luke Littler is inevitable. The two played together and against each other during Littler's season on the 2023 Development Tour. Manby admits he was inspired by the stormy rise of the world champion.

“There’s a lot of young people out there now, a lot younger than me, 12 and 13-year-olds who can’t play on the development tour yet,” he explained. “The reason they’ve started playing and got better is because of Littler doing what he did.

“He’s been great for the game, and now kids want to start you so they can do it early. He’s spurred all the youngsters on, and there is lots for them to do now with the Junior Darts Tour.”

But Manby is not just another talent; he is a player with a clear ambition. This week he takes part in his first PDC major, the UK Open in Minehead, for which he qualified through the 2024 Development Tour Order of Merit. He starts in the first round against Aden Kirk. Should Manby make it to the fourth round, he may just run into Littler. 'The Nuke,' like the other players in the top-32 world rankings, has been granted direct entry to the fourth round.

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