“Fair play to Luke, he deserves that title" - Luke Littler shows maturity belying his youth after defeat in World Darts Championship final

Luke Littler came up just short in his quest to win the World Darts Championship on debut. The 16-year-old Englishman went down 7-4 in the final against Luke Humphries.

“It’s been unbelievable," reflected Littler post-match. “Every game has been great. I lost too many legs on my own throw tonight, and I’m disappointed I missed those three darts to keep the game going, because that’s what the crowd wanted."

Despite final defeat, there are plenty of positives for Littler to take into the new year as he begins life on the PDC Tour. “Fair play to Luke, he deserves that title," Littler says, showing maturity beyond his years. "I’m into the world’s top 32, runner-up on my debut. It’s been an unbelievable tournament, and now I just want to go on and win it.”

Given his performances and the immense talent he has, the calls for Littler to be included in the Premier League Darts lineup have been growing, with the old adage 'If you're good enough, you're old enough,' coming up often. After a hectic few months however, Littler is keen for a break.

"It's been unbelievable the past three to four weeks and now I just can't wait to go home," he explains. "Go back home and get ready for this year. Plenty of days off."