DARTS – THE teenager, who took the world of darts by storm by winning back-to-back world titles, is looking to regain a coveted golden palm tree trophy as he returns to Bahrain – the scene of his first-ever senior triumph.
Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, the 18-year-old sensation and Manchester United super fan, will once again participate in the Bahrain Darts Masters, which will take place at Terminal 4 by Beyon located at Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir today and tomorrow.
Speaking to the GDN at a special media gathering yesterday at the Gulf Hotel Convention and Spa in Manama, Littler described the tournament as a ‘particularly special’ one for him, and said that he was looking forward to once again taking on the best players in the world.
“It is great to be back in Bahrain,” he said. “We all love it here, and we all came a few days early, just to enjoy the weather! Hopefully, we will be off to a good start to the tournament and play some great darts for the crowd.”
For Littler, his passion for the game started when he was just 18 months old, playing on a toy magnetic dart board bought by his dad. He went on pick up ‘proper arrows’ to claim his first 180, the maximum three-dart score, at the age of six and his first nine-dart finish at the age of 13.
After winning the 2023 PDC World Youth Championship and five PDC Development Tour titles, Littler made his PDC World Championship debut aged just 16. Despite being an outsider, he managed to reach the final, where he lost to seasoned Luke Humphries.
He made his World Series debut at the Bahrain Darts Masters just a month later, where he hit his first ever televised nine-dart finish in his quarter-final victory over Nathan Aspinall. He beat Michael van Gerwen in the final to take his first ever senior title.
Littler built on his Bahrain victory as the months went by, and he finished 2024 as the youngest ever World Champion at the age of 17.
In 2025, he reached the quarterfinals of the Bahrain Darts Masters, losing 6-2 to eventual finalist, Gerwyn Price, who missed out on the trophy in a tense final against Stephen Bunting.
Now fresh from a second world title win in a row, Littler explained that he is no longer the ‘plucky wonderkid’ but rather a household name that needs to always be at his best.
“There is always a weight on you,” he said. “Everybody wants to beat you – everybody wants to beat the best. I’m expecting a good challenge, so I will have to be on top of my game.”
Littler is looking forward to stepping up to the oche and it all starts tonight at the Bahrain Darts Masters, with the young man more focused than ever. “It gets us going for the World Series straight after the World Championships,” he explained. “Bahrain is a special tournament because this is where it all happened for me off the back of losing to Luke Humphries.
“I came here and I got the job done ... and I want to do it again.”
The young sensation was born in the industrial town of Warrington, between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester. He was spoiled for choice when it came to great football teams to follow.
In the end, his heart chose to support the Red Devils of Old Trafford, Manchester United, rather than the Reds of Anfield, Liverpool.
Despite the club failing to capture the glory of its trophy-winning years under the management of legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, Littler is optimistic and has his faith in former star Michael Carrick, who was recently announced as interim manager until the end of the season.
“Hopefully, he can come in and help us out,” he said. “We should try to get into the Champions League, or at least the Europa League, and then see what happens in the summer.
“I recently met with Sir Alex, it was so good to see him. He is such an icon and a legend.”
Finally, Littler’s message to fans attending the Bahrain Darts Masters is to simply sit back and savour the sporting spectacular. “Just enjoy the occasion,” he said. “Enjoy the tournament, enjoy some good darts. And, let’s see if I can hit another nine darter!”
nader@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))