Sport

The stats behind World Darts Champion Luke Littler’s brilliant year (and a bit) are quite staggering

It's fair to say you'll being hearing Luke Littler and world titles in the same sentence for a long time.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 4th January 2025

Yes, he’s done it: the still-teenaged Luke Littler is officially a World Darts Champion and although we all saw it coming, the stats behind his meteoric rise are, frankly, ridiculous.

As if becoming the youngest-ever player to ever win the 2025 PDC World Darts Championships at just 17 wasn’t impressive enough, his pathway, previous victories and numerous accolades leading up to this point really put things into perspective.

Oddly enough, he almost seemed destined to get his hands on the trophy the moment he fell just short in last year’s final against current world number one Luke Humphries.

Here are the numbers to prove it:

As put together by Sporting Life journalist Chris Hammer, when the already long list of achievements in just his first year and a bit as a professional on the senior circuit is laid out in front of you like that, it really does feel like it was always going to happen, doesn’t it?

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But this doesn’t even quite tell the full story.

Even before he won his first PDC title on the pro tour at the Bahrain Masters back in January, the Warrington-born teen had already won the senior Irish Open back in 2021 when he was just 14. Let us repeat that: 14 years old.

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Going back even further, he’s been dominating the youth circuit for some time too – most notably becoming the first player in JDC (Junior Darts Corporation) history to win back-to-back World Championship titles in 2022 and ’23.

The trend of consecutive successes has only increased as time has gone on and now the youngster has won a trio of darts majors with a Grand Slam, World Series and Premier League title, not to mention two Masters tournaments and a pair of PDC Opens, winning the rest feels like a mere certainty.

The consistency behind his stats and level of averages alone are rather frightening and as the cherry on top of the Sid Waddell Trophy, Luke Littler also won the win the Ballon D’Art trophy after hitting 79 maximums – though Michael Smith does still hold the record for most 180s in a tournament (83).

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Not to play on anyone’s inferiority complex here or force them to look back at what they were up to at his age either but, as detailed above, Littler‘s first-place prize of £500,000 has just seen him rack up more than £1.5 million in total earnings over the past 13 months since his pro debut.

But it doesn’t stop there…

As per The Telegraph, top players in the sport typically earn around £350,000 a year in shirt sales and other merchandising opportunities; he also stands to earn even more away from the board than he already does from personal dart sets once he turns 18 and betting sponsors inevitably come knocking.

With no exaggeration whatsoever, Littler’s stats haven’t just seen him win a lot of titles and money in a relatively short space of time but he’s helped kick off a whole new generation-spanning darting renaissance and love for the arrows.

You can watch the highlights from Luke Littler’s World Darts Championship win over veteran and fellow serial winner, Michael van Gerwen, down below.

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Here’s how he did it.

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Featured Images — Sky Sports (screenshot via YouTube)

Sport

Etihad Stadium showcases City Hall, the new beating heart of Manchester City match days 

Lonnie Bowes Lonnie Bowes Etihad Stadium showcases City Hall, the new beating heart of Manchester City match days 

There’s a particular kind of Manchester buzz you only get pitch-side. If you’re a seasoned Cityzen this one’s for you – one of three major new hospitality options for your next game day at the Etihad Stadium. 

Tucked in the heart of the new Pep Guardiola Stand, directly behind the goal, we have the brand-new City Hall.

City Hall is built for people who actually want to watch football in comfort, and with a massive 500 capacity hall a stone’s throw from the pitch, it’s a hard one to pass up.

Doors open a full two hours before the match, and that early access turns the day into an occasion rather than a scramble.

There’s time to properly soak up the atmosphere in what is a genuinely lively, buzzing bar, and I have to say potentially one of the best I’ve come across on a match day.

Food and drink are where the local flavour really comes through. The street food menu leans into Manchester’s own identity with a modern twist. 

The catering is relaxed and doesn’t take itself too seriously, let’s just say having a chip barm and chicken madras pie on the run-up to a kick-off is my idea of heaven.

Inside City Hall at the Etihad Stadium
Inside City Hall at the Etihad Stadium

Every guest gets an inclusive drink as part of your booking, too. You get to pick from a selected wine, beer or soft drink which you can claim at any point during your visit.

It’s a setup that suits everyone, whether you’re in it for a proper pre-match pint with your mates or meal with your family before a day of making pitch side memories.

The little touches matter too. A matchday programme is a nice, old-school addition in an era where so much matchday content has gone digital. 

And crucially, the experience doesn’t end at the final whistle: with an hour’s access after the match, there’s no need to bolt for the exits the second the referee blows for full-time. You can sit and finish your drink, and let the ground empty out around you instead of fighting through it.

Put it all together and City Hall feels like hospitality done with an actual sense of place. 

Manchester street food, a proper buzzing bar, and one of the best seats in the house, all wrapped around a schedule that respects the fact that match day is about more than just the 90 minutes. 

For anyone looking to upgrade how they watch City this season, it’s well worth a look.

Have a look and make a booking at City Hall at the Etihad Stadium HERE. 

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Sport

The road to the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford has been confirmed

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The road to the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford has been confirmed. Credit: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com

The road to one of the biggest nights in rugby league has officially been mapped out, with the 2026 Betfred Super League Grand Final set to return to Manchester’s Old Trafford this October.

Following the final round of regular-season action, the four play-off ties have now been confirmed as the battle for a place at the home of Manchester United enters its final stages.

And there’s plenty for Greater Manchester sports fans to get excited about.

Wigan Warriors have secured the League Leaders’ Shield after an emphatic 50-12 victory over Catalans Dragons, with Matt Peet’s side running in nine tries to finish top of the table.

The result keeps Wigan’s hopes of an incredible treble alive, having already lifted the Betfred Challenge Cup back in May.

They’ll now have a week off while the opening play-off ties take place, as will second-placed Leeds Rhinos.

The first eliminator sees Wakefield Trinity welcome Leigh Leopards on Friday 18 September, with kick-off at 8pm.

Then, on Saturday 19 September, Warrington Wolves take on Hull KR at 5.30pm.

The winners of those games will progress to the semi-finals, while the losing sides will face the two highest-ranked teams in the competition.

The road to the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford has been confirmed. Credit: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
The road to the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford has been confirmed. Credit: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com

Leeds will host the highest-ranked eliminator loser on Friday 25 September at 8pm.

Then, 24 hours later, Wigan will welcome the lowest-ranked loser to the Brick Community Stadium for their semi-final, with that one kicking off at 5.30pm on Saturday 26 September.

For Wigan, it represents a huge opportunity to take another step towards an historic treble – and ultimately a return to Old Trafford.

The Grand Final itself takes place on Saturday 3 October, with the action getting underway at 6pm.

As ever, the biggest prize in Super League will be decided under the lights at Old Trafford, with the two remaining sides battling it out in front of what is expected to be another huge crowd in Manchester.

The full play-off schedule

  • Friday 18 September: Wakefield Trinity v Leigh Leopards – 8pm, Sky Sports
  • Saturday 19 September: Warrington Wolves v Hull KR – 5.30pm, BBC Sport and Sky Sports
  • Friday 25 September: Leeds Rhinos v highest-ranked eliminator loser – 8pm, Sky Sports
  • Saturday 26 September: Wigan Warriors v lowest-ranked eliminator loser – 5.30pm, BBC Sport and Sky Sports
  • Saturday 3 October: Betfred Super League Grand Final, Old Trafford – 6pm, Sky Sports

So, with just three weeks standing between the play-off opener and the Grand Final, the race for Old Trafford is officially on.

And for Wigan, there’s potentially one more piece of silverware standing between them and a remarkable treble.

Tickets are available HERE.

Featured image: Supplied, Olly Hassell/SWpix.com

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