Darts star - After the World Cup final at 16: What's next for Luke Littler?
Luke Littler 's unexpected winning streak at the World Championship triggered a huge amount of darts hype in England. The TV ratings were better than in the days of legend Phil Taylor, and various media outlets joined in with the coverage at short notice on location in London during the final days.
After the 16-year-old Englishman's 4:7 defeat in the final against Luke Humphries, the hype is likely to die down for the time being - especially as there are no major or important events in the coming weeks. Then the question will arise: What's next for "The Nuke" (The Atomic Bomb) after coming very close to the biggest triumph in his sport as a teenager?
Big tournaments
Littler's 200,000 pounds (around 230,000 euros) for reaching the World Championship final sees him rise to 31st place in the rankings. This makes him a candidate for many important ranking tournaments in the future. Although the super talent has not yet qualified for the Masters in Milton Keynes at the beginning of February, his debut at major tournaments such as the World Matchplay, the Grand Slam or the Premier League is probably only a matter of time.
Appearances in Germany
German fans should also be able to see Littler soon. There are various stops on the European Tour that the youngster could take with him. The two most important tournaments in Germany are the World Team Championships and the European Championships. While the World Team Championships in Frankfurt in June are likely to come too soon for Littler due to the high level of competition in the English team, he could well qualify for the European Championships in Dortmund in October. Littler is likely to be a regular at the World Championships with 96 participants anyway.
What the other pros say
They are thrilled. World champion Humphries raved about Littler's style and said: "Luke is an incredible talent. It's not just about the sport, but also his appearance. He's handled it all brilliantly." Veteran Stephen Bunting predicted with a view to the World Championship: "I'm sure Luke Littler will lift this trophy one day."
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- Despite the disappointing outcome in the World Cup final, Luke Littler's impressive performance in Great Britain has garnered attention beyond the darts community in PDC, with media outlets showcasing his talent during the WM in London.
- With his 4:7 defeat against Luke Humphries, Littler missed out on becoming the youngest winner in the history of Darts' WM, but his ranking now places him among the top contenders for upcoming major tournaments such as the World Matchplay in Germany.
- Having secured a significant sum of 200,000 pounds for reaching the World Championship final, Luke Littler has catapulted himself into the international spotlight, potentially leading to appearances at events like the Grand Slam and the Premier League in the future.
- German fans will have a chance to witness Littler's darts prowess as he takes part in tournaments like the World Team Championships in Frankfurt and the European Championships in Dortmund in the coming months.
- Although the World Team Championships may prove too challenging for Luke Littler due to the high level of competition in the English team, his performance in the European Championships in October is expected to be noteworthy, further fueling his promising future in the sport.
- Phil Taylor, widely considered one of the greatest darts players in Great Britain, has taken notice of Littler's talent and expressed his admiration for Luke's abilities on the dartsboard and off it, labeling him an 'incredible talent'.
- Stephen Bunting, a veteran in the sport, shares Taylor's optimism and predicts that Luke Littler will one day triumph in the World Championship, further cementing his position as a prominent figure in the Darts world and continuing the rich British tradition in the sport.
Source: www.stern.de
