Luke Littler reveals Michael van Gerwen darts record he's desperate to beat
Luke Littler is ready to go one better at next month's world championships but the Nuke, 17, still has plenty of time to beat Michael van Gerwen's impressive record
by Alan Smith · The MirrorLuke Littler has set his eyes on becoming the youngest world champion and claims “it would mean everything” to eclipse Michael van Gerwen.
The Nuke, 17, was beaten in a thrilling final by Luke Humphries in last season’s world championships and gone on to have a stunning, success-laden 2024. And while he has seven years to beat Van Gerwen’s record of winning aged 24, Littler appears to be in a rush.
The worlds get underway at Alexandra Palace on December 15 and Littler told Sky Sports: "I know Michael van Gerwen holds the youngest at 24. So I’ve got seven years, I could just slouch about for six years and just win it when I’m 24.
"I’d obviously like to win it before Michael won it, it would mean everything to be the youngest, that’s definitely what I’m looking for."
Littler, currently ranked fourth in the world, has already won this year's Premier League, World Series and Grand Slam and nailed two televised nine darters. As a result the Warrington youngster is second favourite to be crowned Sports Personality of the Year on December 17 - though Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson is the runaway favourite.
Yet Littler’s real target is to go one better at Ally Pally across the festive season.
“I got the runner-up on my first go, but yeah, I'd like to win it,” he added. “Obviously, everyone wants to win it, but that's where my game is at the minute, I think I can win it.”
As one of the top seeds he will have a bye in the opening round but is set to face the winner of the tie between Fallon Sherrock and Ryan Meikle. Littler added: "If I do come across her, I don't know what the crowd would be like. Against Fallon, it might be a bit different. I don't think anyone really missed it [when Sherrock reached the third round in 2019]. It was incredible to watch.
"Good luck to them both. It should be a really interesting game, because Ryan's playing really good, and so is Fallon.
"It won't be easy [against either of them]. No game will be easy this year, but it'll be a tough test for both of them facing each other in the first round. Either way, I'm very confident, whoever wins. I just can't wait to get on stage. Ever since the Worlds [last year] it has been crazy – this is where it all started for me. The buzz is there, I can feel it."
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