"The darting world doesnt know whats about to hit them" says manager of Luke Littler

Luke Littler finished the PDC Development Tour second on the Order of Merit. The 16-year-old Englishman is thus assured of a Tour Card for the next two years.

Littler is mentored by Martin Foulds of ZXF Sports management. "So the story goes 3 years ago i gets a phone call about some upcoming 13 year old darts protégée who with a bit of guidance could go onto amazing things… i was unsure as he was a kid, i met him and his parents and also watched some clips online of him and immediately my opinion changed," he recalls in a Facebook post.

"The whole family reminded me of me and my background, humble people who just wanted the best for their children…. Not enough is said about the parents Lisa Chuffy Littler & Anthony Chuffy Buckley who have sacrificed so much for Luke and traveled the world with him to help him achieve his dream, so I'll say it; Thank you, as if it wasn’t for your sacrifices then we wouldnt be writing posts like this. I wanted to help in anyway i could so took the punt at the time."

"Well 3 years on and its not a punt anymore," Foulds concludes. "the kids now matured into a Professional Darts player after securing a 2 year tour card by dismantling some of the best youth players on the planet over 24 events - which shows it was no fluke!! The darting world doesnt know whats about to hit them."