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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jonathan Liew

A sporting superhero: can anyone stop Luke Littler at the world darts championship?

Luke Littler lifts the trophy after winning the Grand Slam of Darts final against Luke Humphries in November.
Luke Littler lifts the trophy after winning the Grand Slam of Darts final against Luke Humphries in November. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

You will be seeing plenty of Batman and Wonder Woman over the coming weeks; Spiderman, Mr Incredible, perhaps even a Ninja Turtle or two. Yes, Christmas at Alexandra Palace is always a good time for spotting superheroes. But only one of them will not be wearing a costume.

In fact, it is when he is in his normal human clothes, doing normal human things, that Luke Littler looks at his most incongruous. Standing with his fellow Manchester United fans in the away end at Molineux. Proudly brandishing a fresh driving certificate after finally passing his test. And it is in these more unguarded moments that you remember that the man they call The Nuke, the phenomenon who has detonated the sport of darts, is really still just a kid, a regular lad from Warrington with a deeply irregular talent.

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