November 28th 2024.
Luke Littler is on the verge of breaking one of Michael van Gerwen's records at the prestigious Alexandra Palace. The 17-year-old dart prodigy is determined to become the youngest winner of the PDC World Darts Championship, and this year, he has a golden opportunity to make it happen.
Despite his young age, Littler is already a force to be reckoned with in the darting world. His impressive performance on his debut at the championship last year, where he finished as the runner-up, has made him a top contender for the title this time around. And with Michael van Gerwen currently holding the record for the youngest ever winner at 24, Littler has plenty of time to surpass it.
In a lighthearted tone, the ambitious teenager joked that he could take it easy for a few years before breaking MVG's record. But in all seriousness, he knows that achieving this feat would mean everything to him and would solidify his place in darting history. "I know Michael van Gerwen holds the youngest record at 24," said Littler. "So I have seven years, I could just relax for six and then win it when I'm 24! But in all honesty, I'd love to win it before Michael and it would mean everything to be the youngest. That's my ultimate goal."
Littler's meteoric rise in the darting world is undeniable. In just his first year as a professional, he has already won an impressive 10 titles, including the Premier League, Grand Slam, and World Series Finals. But despite his achievements, he is still considered the underdog compared to Luke Humphries, who is currently the world number one and the defending champion. However, Littler is not fazed by the pressure and is focused on his own game. "I know the bookmakers have me as the favorite this time, probably based on recent performances," he said. "But as players, we just have to look ahead and play our best game, regardless of who is the favorite."
While Littler's talent and success have earned him respect from his peers, some have questioned whether he could be a threat to van Gerwen's reign at the top. But the Dutch darting legend is not afraid of the young prodigy and has reminded him that he has been dominating the sport for a long time. "I think he's playing incredibly well. Of course, he had a phenomenal year, but how many tournaments has Humphries won?" said van Gerwen. "I just need to focus on my game. I've only won four tournaments this year, which is not great."
Van Gerwen also pointed out that Littler is not invincible, as proven by their previous encounter at the World Matchplay where he defeated the rising star in the first round. Despite his immense talent and the media attention surrounding him, van Gerwen remains confident in his abilities and is not intimidated by Littler. "No one is unbeatable, and that includes Luke Littler. Of course, he's a great player and fantastic for the game, but I'm not afraid of him," he said with a chuckle. "Even when I'm not at my best, he still hasn't beaten me more times than I've beaten him. So that should say something. Am I scared of him? Absolutely not."
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