Luke Littler finishes runner-up in World Darts Championship
Littler-fever has gripped the country after the 16-year-old's historic run
Last updated 3rd Jan 2024
Luke Littler's historic World Championship dream has ended after he lost in the final to Luke Humphries.
The 16-year-old from Warrington has set Alexandra Palace alight over the last fortnight and was one win away from producing one of the greatest sporting stories of all time by becoming the youngest world darts champion.
But he fell at the final hurdle and was left in tears as Humphries showed why he is the new world number one with a scintillating 7-4 victory, which saw him lift the Sid Waddell trophy for the first time.
He was one dart away from going 5-2 down, but he rallied and reeled off five successive sets to claim glory in style.
"As a kid you could see he was very special"
The Co-founder of St Helens Darts Academy Karl Holden said ahead of the final:
"He has been coming here since he was nine. We are all very proud,"
"When he first came as a kid you could see he was very special and he just got better and better. Every year he was a bit better than the last.
"We put him up to the Under-14s when he was nine, but three months after that he was smashing all them to bits.
"He hardly lost so we said, 'What do we now?' We put him into the elite group, which is our best players, and he had just turned 10."
Humphries may have been the champion, but Littler received a hero's reception at the end of the match and he is the story of the tournament.
Life will never be the same for Littler, who now has a global profile, as his exploits have transcended the world of darts.
Littler's journey to the final
First Round - Christian Kist (3-0)
Debuting with flair, Littler defeated Christian Kist with a record-breaking average of 106.12.
Second Round - Andrew Gilding (3-1)
Becoming the youngest to reach the third round, Littler calmly handled UK Open champion Andrew Gilding.
Third Round - Matt Campbell (4-1)
Maintaining the hype, Littler ousted Matt Campbell with a remarkable 164 checkout.
Last 16 - Raymond van Barneveld (4-1)
Facing childhood idol Raymond van Barneveld, Littler showcased brilliance, eliminating the five-time world champion.
Quarter-final - Brendan Dolan (5-1)
Continuing his dominance, Littler overwhelmed Brendan Dolan with heavy scoring and mature play.
Semi-final - Rob Cross (6-2)
In a masterful performance, Littler conquered 2018 champion Rob Cross with a 106.05 average and 16 180s.