The UK and sporting world at large are currently being captivated by the fairytale story that is Luke Littler’s arrival at the World Darts Championship, and after going viral with his post-victory meal earlier in the tournament, a kebab house is offering him free kebabs for life he wins the whole thing.
Now these are the kind of stories we want to kick off the year with.
The 16-year-old darts sensation became the youngest player in history to reach the semi-finals of the Worlds, netting a cool £100,000 for himself in the process (not too shabby for a teenager), and is now a genuine heavy favourite to win his first ever PDC major on debut.
After telling Sky Sports that he planned on treating himself to “a kebab and a Coke” after his first wins, he delighted fans by sharing a simple but wholesome post of him doing just that at a London kebab house and, if he keeps on the way he’s going, he might never have to pay the pleasure ever again.
In a funny little twist and form of motivation from the world-famous chain and Britain’s biggest kebab shop, Kebhouze, their London site on Oxford Street has promised to give Littler free kebabs for life if wins the 2023 World Darts Championship final on Wednesday, 3 January.
The steaks (see what we did there?) have never been higher.
While he has occasionally switched things up with the likes of McDonald’s and revealed that he’s been treating himself to the post-match fast food tradition ever since he started playing darts “non-stop” from the age of 18, a doner wrap with nothing more than lettuce and mayo is his go-to.
Maybe it’s the humble, working-class relatability of it all, but it’s a running joke that hasn’t just been amusing fans and newbies to the sport alike but he’s been more than happy to lean into as he continues to take to the Ally Pally stage like a duck to water. The meme world has certainly appreciated it too.
Speaking on the tantalising offer that the Cheshire teen simply couldn’t refuse if he tried, Kebhouze’s Chief Marketing Officer Giulio Paternò told the Daily Star, “After hearing that Luke loves nothing more than a kebab to celebrate a win, we had to make him an offer that would further encourage the 16-year-old master player to win at this year’s PDC World Darts Championship”.
“Hopefully knowing that a lifetime supply of our premium kebabs as well as the esteemed title are just on the other side will give him more ammo to go on and win the Championship at Ally Pally. We wish Luke the best of luck – the next one is on us!”
Absolutely mint. With just two games between him and a first major title in his maiden World Championship (and kebab heaven, of course), having already wiped the floor with multiple senior and talented opponents with more pedigree to their name, we’re all starting to believe he can do it.
The Warrington teen faces Rob Cross, who also won the tournament on debut at 28 back in 2018, on Tuesday at 7:30pm, where he’ll make even more history if he manages to secure a place in the final two the following day and will play either Scott Williams or Luke Humphries for the Sid Waddell trophy.
When it comes to seeing how this spectacular story is going to end, we’re hungrier than Luke after a tense five-set quarter-final.
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Featured Images — Luke Littler (via Instagram)/Live Darts (via X)/The Manc Group