Luke Littler reveals 18th birthday celebrations as he reaches milestone today amid ‘crazy schedule’ after giving himself the ‘best early present’

Luke Littler says he will enjoy a low-key 18th birthday celebration with his family having already given himself the best early present by winning the World Championship.

Littler celebrates becoming an adult on Tuesday, having already racked up a raft of career achievements most could ever dream of.

The 17-year-old created history by becoming the youngest world champion when he beat Michael van Gerwen in the Alexandra Palace final earlier this month to cap a stellar first year on the PDC Tour where he also won the Premier League and the Grand Slam of Darts.

While turning 18 is a rite of passage for most youngsters and is celebrated in style, Littler will be having a quiet one, mainly due to the hectic forthcoming schedule.

He travels to Den Bosch for the Dutch Darts Masters later this week before the World Masters at the end of the month and the Premier League starting in February.

So, instead of going big, Littler is more likely to sit at home looking at the Sid Waddell Trophy in the company of his family.

Luke Littler has revealed his plans for his 18th birthday celebrations following a stunning debut campaign on the PDC Tour

The 17-year-old became the youngster player to win the World Darts Championship earlier this month. Pictured: Littler with his mother Lisa Littler, father Anthony Buckley and brother Leon

‘I haven’t got anything planned really because there is a lot of darts around this time,’ he told PA.

‘I will probably just do something at home before the crazy schedule starts. But I gave myself the best early birthday present by winning the Worlds.

‘My first year has been difficult, at the start of the year with the Premier League and travelling to the European Tours, I have been travelling up and down the country.

‘It’s at the start of the year when the crazy schedule is.’

Littler’s maiden title at Ally Pally will be the first of many – unless something goes drastically wrong.

He has said he is capable of beating Phil Taylor’s record of 16 if he has the hunger and longevity.

Taylor admitted he would be happy to see his tally surpassed but says Littler has a target on his back.

‘Can he get better, I don’t know,’ Taylor told PA.

The Manchester United supporter paraded the Sid Waddell Trophy in front of fans at Old Trafford on Sunday

Sixteen-time world champion Phil Taylor believes that the teenager can get even better

‘I don’t know him that well, he is a lovely lad, a normal 17-year-old, likes his phone, he’s very quiet and humble. He’s not money-oriented, he is family-orientated, he loves his mum and dad.

‘It’s up to him now, once you have got that name you are a target so you’ve got to really buckle down now and practice hard because everybody is after you now.’

Littler has earned over £1.6million in prize money from his achievements at the oche – a figure that has been dwarfed by his income from sponsorship deals with high-profile brands.

He has almost single-handedly dragged darts into the mainstream since he burst on to the scene at the 2024 World Championship, transcending the sport and becoming a global name.

Littler was named second in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, presented a Brit Award, appeared on the front of Forbes magazine and was a guest on the Jonathan Ross Show.

Interest in the sport has boomed and Matchroom president Barry Hearn has called Littler ‘the gift that keeps on giving’.

‘I call it now the Luke Littler effect, the gift that keeps on giving,’ Hearn told PA in 2024.

‘I would compare him to the British version of Tiger Woods. He has his feet on the ground and doesn’t seem to get phased, for a 17-year-old that is just amazing.

‘I just think that darts hasn’t even started in where it is going to go globally.

‘I have been in this business for 50 years and I have never seen anything like this in any sport, it’s as simple as that.’