"It’s all down to business": Luke Littler ready for Grand Slam Last 16 battle, gives AngryGinge I'm a Celebrity verdict

Luke Littler cruised through the group stages of the 2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts with a perfect record, rounding off his campaign with a third straight win on Tuesday night.

Despite already securing qualification, the 18-year-old showed flashes of his trademark flair — and promised that the real business starts now in Wolverhampton.

“Obviously there was still something to play for — getting a few legs and topping the group,” Littler reflected. “But to go out and win three out of three, I’m very happy.”

The defending champion admitted that, with his place in the knockout rounds already secure, he allowed himself to have a bit of fun on stage. “I didn’t even know how many legs I was on,” he laughed. “I just thought to myself, ‘Get two or three,’ but I just wanted to win the game. Daryl [Gurney] was there about scoring and finishing, but I’m just glad to get the win.”

Asked about his tendency to entertain once qualification was sealed, Littler said it’s simply part of who he is. “I’ll always try and do some entertaining when I’ve qualified,” he said. “But now I have, it’s all down to business — it starts when we come back on Thursday.”

The Warrington star insists that his mindset will shift completely once the knockout rounds begin. “It’s just about winning two games,” he explained. “In some groups people have won one or two and still not gone through, so to go three out of three, it’s very good.”

Even in a more relaxed performance, Littler admitted there were still moments he wanted to make count — including a shot at the big 170 finish. “Yeah, I was trying to set it up in previous legs,” he said. “Every time I hit treble 20 to start a leg I wasn’t best pleased, because I wasn’t trying for a nine as well! But we’ll see what happens on Wednesday.”

The teenager also shared his thoughts on friend and influencer Angry Ginge, who recently entered I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! “I think he’s going to do very well,” Littler smiled. “I knew for a long time he was going in there. We’ll have to vote for him and see what he has to eat!”

Would he ever consider joining the jungle himself? “Maybe,” he grinned. “If they come around with the right price, I might go over for a few weeks!”

Despite already being through, Littler said he still wanted to give fans a show. “That’s all I had to do — get a few legs to top the group — and then obviously the showboating comes,” he said. “But like I said, it’s all down to business now. Now we’re out of the groups, hopefully I can go on and defend the title.”

While some players prefer to focus purely on results, Littler insists that entertaining is part of his DNA. “Some people might say showboating can put you off,” he admitted. “But for me, it just all comes with what I do on the board. That’s just part of me.”

As the sport’s standout attraction, Littler is well aware of the growing spotlight — and his influence on darts’ booming popularity. “I know what I’ve done for the sport over the past 18 or 19 months, and it’s only going to continue,” he said. “The numbers watching at home, buying PDC TV or whatever they’re watching it on — it’s all going up and it’s going in the right direction.”

And when asked about the so-called “Luke Littler Effect”, he simply smiled: “That says it all — the Luke Littler Effect. I don’t really have to say anything on my behalf.”

Littler admitted it felt slightly odd to play earlier in the evening, but said that now the knockout rounds will bring out his best. “Yeah, that’s just how it goes,” he said. “Obviously I knew I was through, so it was about getting a few legs on the board and securing that top spot. Then we come back Wednesday to see whoever I play.”

He’s confident that the longer format in the knockout stages will suit him perfectly. “I’ve always said I love coming back on stage after a break,” he explained. “I know there’ll be two crucial breaks, but I think this is where you’ll see the best darts. There weren’t many good darts in the group stage, but I’m sure I’ll produce even better now.”

Littler is set for a blockbuster second-round tie, with possible opponents including Gian van Veen, Josh Rock or Wessel Nijman. “I think I worked it out yesterday or the day before that we could meet,” he said. “Whatever happens tonight happens. I hope I perform better over the longer format, and I’m sure I will. I’ll put the practice in and see who I end up playing.”

The teenager has already lifted several major trophies in his remarkable rise, but is still chasing his first successful title defence. “I’ve only had one chance this year in the Premier League, and now this is the second,” he said. “So far, so good — and once the longer format comes in, that’s when you’ll see the best darts from me.”

Asked whether he believes darts is entering a new era with players like himself, Gian van Veen and Josh Rock leading the charge, Littler agreed that the game is evolving. “Yeah, obviously they’ve been on the tour for many years — even longer than I have,” he said. “I’ve just come through and kind of put them under the radar, but they’re still there. They’re still going to be beating us, they’re still going to be beating Van Gerwen and Luke Humphries. You definitely can’t write them off.”

And who does he see as the biggest threat to his title defence? “Well, definitely the game on Wednesday — whoever I play,” Littler said. “I don’t even know who’s on my side of the draw. I know Luke’s on the other side. I’ve not been paying much attention, but I’ve just got to keep plodding forward, hopefully all the way to the final, and go for number one.”