Luke Littler has officially claimed the world No.1 ranking in darts, completing one of the sport’s most extraordinary rises just 22 months after turning professional.
The 18-year-old, who shocked the darts world as a teenage newcomer in late 2023, will top the PDC standings on Monday after securing a place in the Grand Slam of Darts final. His decisive 16–9 semi-final win over Dutch contender Danny Noppert, featuring a 102.62 average, sealed his leap to the top.
Littler’s ascent has been meteoric. He arrived at the 2023 World Championship as an unknown 16-year-old and now holds both the world title and more than £1.7 million in prize earnings. Many fans already considered him the sport’s best, but Littler had resisted the label while Luke Humphries remained world No.1.
«It’s not even been two years… and I am already world No.1,» the Warrington star said. «That is job done.»
Despite early slips in his semi-final, Littler showed the composure that has defined his rapid rise, pulling away from Noppert in the final stages. He now faces Humphries in tonight’s Grand Slam final — but in ranking terms, the battle between the two Lukes has already been won.
Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Robbie Williams says he believes the weight-loss injections he has used for several years may be affecting his eyesight.
