Luke Littler’s Mesmeric Journey to No.1: How Long Can The Nuke Dominate Darts?

At just 18, Luke Littler is rewriting the record books of professional darts, already crowned World No.1 after less than two years on the PDC tour. ‘The Nuke’ has amassed eight major titles, including the World Championship, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Premier League, and UK Open already, a CV many could only ever dream of.

Add in a further four World Series crowns, eight Pro Tour wins, the 2024 World Series Finals, and back-to-back Grand Slam of Darts victories, and it’s clear Littler isn’t just winning, but dominating the sport at its highest level.

Luke Littler lifting the Grand Slam of Darts trophy after winning last Sunday's final

A Star Is Born: 2023 Breakthrough

Littler first announced himself at the 2023 UK Open, making the fourth round on debut as a Rileys Qualifier, before sealing victory at the 2023 World Youth Championship, edging Gian van Veen 6-4 in the final. That same year, the 16-year-old embarked on a stunning run to the PDC World Championship final, narrowly losing 7-4 to then World No.1 Luke Humphries in a thrilling match he had led 4-2 in sets.

The final saw 4.8 million viewers tune in live on Sky Sports, setting a record for the broadcaster’s highest non-football peak audience at the time. For Littler, it was his time to announce himself as a generational talent on the world stage.

After reaching the World's final on debut, he had the modest and mature expectation of hoping to secure a place in the Top 32 within two years, however, no one could ever have envisaged his remarkable ability to compete and win the biggest events against the elite players almost instantly.

Dominance in 2024–25

Momentum from that breakthrough carried into 2024. Littler landed the Premier League title, World Series Finals, Grand Slam of Darts, five Pro Tour titles, and two World Series individual titles, propelling him to World No.2 within twelve whirlwind months.

In 2025, he continued his remarkable run. After winning the World Championship in January, Littler added the UK Open, World Matchplay, and World Grand Prix, while defending his Grand Slam of Darts title just last weekend in Wolverhampton. He also collected three more Pro Tour wins, two additional World Series titles, and reached two further major finals.

Littler’s consistency under pressure is staggering, he has lost only one of 23 matches that have gone 20 legs or longer, proving his ability to “flick the switch” in high-stakes situations. He thrives on the big occasions under the bright lights, becoming almost unstoppable in the latter stages of any major tournament.

A Player Beyond His Years

What sets Littler apart isn’t just the number of titles, but how he wins them. Whether adjusting his stance, set-up, or throwing action to suit any conditions, his relentless nature and consistency across the long format matches set him apart to decide those major trophy triumphs.

Unlike many young talents before him, Littler is on a completely different level, combining a down to earth personality with an old head on young shoulders, making opposition fearful before even facing him on the stage.

He sets a perfect example for the youngsters who idolise him, a true generational talent who has come through the system and proved to be no flash in the pan, thanks to his immense focus and ruthless nature to keep turning out elite performances on the biggest stages in world darts.

Reshaping the Sport

Littler’s dominance is reshaping darts. He is inspiring young talents, attracting a new demographic, luring in bigger sponsors, and elevating the sport globally. The winner's cheque for the upcoming PDC World Championship will reach £1,000,000, up from £500,000 last year, which reflects the sport’s growing profile and Littler’s undoubted influence.

Already, he is being compared to the very best the sport has ever seen. Yet Littler seems intent on writing more chapters in his mesmeric rise to the very top of the sport, continuing to smash records along the way.

From 16-year-old World finalist to World No.1 and eight-time major champion, the joint fourth most in PDC history, with only Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and James Wade sitting ahead of him in terms of major honours.

Looking Ahead

The question is no longer whether Littler will dominate, but how long his reign at the top will last and how many more major titles and World Championships he can claim.

With his relentless ambition, maturity, and composure under pressure, ‘The Nuke’ is poised to continue taking the sport to new heights and forming a legacy that will inspire the next generation of young darting superstars.

Luke Littler’s journey has only just begun, and if the past two years are anything to go by, scarily for opposition players, his best is yet to come.