Luke Littler crowns World Grand Prix victory with heartwarming gesture as £10,000 donated to charity

After an exhilarating week of darts at the highest level at the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, not only has Luke Littler emerged as the big winner - the Motor Neurone Disease Association is also benefiting from the unprecedented precision of "The Nuke" and his colleagues.

Thanks to a special campaign by tournament sponsor BoyleSports, a whopping £10,000 was ultimately donated to the organization that works to help people with the deadly muscle disease ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and other forms of motor neurone disease.

The World Grand Prix tournament, which took place last week at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, has long been known for its unique format: players must both start and end a leg with a double. This not only adds to the excitement and strategy, but this year also provides a valuable social contribution.

BoyleSports, as title sponsor of the prestigious tournament, had announced prior to the event to donate £20 to charity for every time double 20 was hit - better known as "tops," the favorite finish of many darters.

Sunday night's final was fittingly concluded with, yes, a double 20 from Luke Littler. It was the 404th time 'tops' was hit during the tournament - good for a sum of £8,080. Littler, who eventually won the tournament with an impressive 6-1 victory over world champion Luke Humphries, was also personally responsible for 78 of those doubles.

But it didn't end there. BoyleSports decided to round up the amount and ended up donating a grand total of £10,000. It was up to Littler to decide which charity the proceeds would go to. The young sensation chose the Motor Neurone Disease Association - an organization dedicated to helping people with disorders of the motor neurons, including ALS.

Littler's choice is no accident. Motor neurone diseases are devastating, both for patients and their families. Famous people such as former rugby player Rob Burrow and darts legend Eric Bristow have given the disease a face within the sports world. Littler's selection not only gives the MND Association a financial boost, but also much-needed visibility in a wide audience.

Gill Blake-Swift, director of brand strategy at BoyleSports, spoke proudly of the initiative, “What a fantastic effort from the players and we’re thrilled to see the darts community rally behind such an important cause. We are proud to support the Motor Neurone Disease Association with this £10,000 donation and we hope it helps advance the vital research and care they carry out for a cause close to so many hearts.”

Praise also came from the PDC. Adam Perfect, head of commercial affairs at the darts association, announced, “This was a fantastic gesture by BOYLE Sports and we would like to thank them for their generosity. The Motor Neurone Disease Association is an incredibly deserving charity and this contribution, as chosen by Luke, will help make a difference to the outstanding work they do.”

For Luke Littler himself, the tournament was yet another confirmation of his unstoppable rise within professional darts. The 18-year-old sensation from Warrington has established himself as a regular at the top of the PDC in record time. With his dominant victory over Humphries, he added the World Grand Prix title to his ever-growing record, which also includes the Premier League Darts and the World Championship.

The fact that he is now making his impact beyond the oche makes his rise all the more impressive. His choice of charity shows not only his maturity, but also his commitment to the world around him.

BoyleSports' initiative and Littler's involvement show that elite sports and social responsibility can go hand in hand extremely well. In a sport once known for smoky pubs and wall-mounted dartboards, we are increasingly seeing examples of players and organizations using their platform for charity.

The £10,000 for the MND Association is more than a symbolic sum - it is a statement. Proof that sport is not just about winning or losing, but about helping people, creating awareness and offering hope.