PDC World Championship 2024: Luke Littler says he has played 'non-stop' since 18 months old

Luke Littler, the 16-year-old who has taken the PDC World Championship by storm this year, says he has played "non-stop" since he was 18 months old.

He is through to the third round of the competition after Thursday's 3-1 win over UK Open champion Andrew Gilding.

The Englishman, who is guaranteed to win at least £25,000, said he began playing on a magnetic board.

"By the age of four I got on to the proper board," Littler, who is ranked 164th by the PDC, told BBC Breakfast.

"From 18 months on I have been non-stop.

"When we moved to Warrington when I was eight or nine we started going out to pubs four to five times a week."

Littler added on BBC Radio 5 Live: "This is just a free shot for me," he said. "It's my first year, I can add a bit of prize money on to my ranking."

The third round takes place from 27-29 December, when Littler will take on Canadian Matt Campbell.

There is £2.5m in overall prize money, with the champion collecting £500,000 and the Sid Waddell Trophy.

'The most naturally gifted player I have ever seen'

Littler, who became the first two-time Junior Darts Corporation world champion before the World Championship, has been praised since debuting at the competition at Alexandra Palace in London.

Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle referred to him as "probably the most naturally gifted player I have ever seen in my life".

Littler told BBC Breakfast: "Phil Taylor said 'he [Littler] is like [three-time PDC world champion] Michael van Gerwen'. That is coming from a 16-time champion.

"It's crazy seeing my idols comparing me to the rest of the top 96, top 128."

He has also won the affection of the Ally Pally crowd, who sing to him "you're going to school in the morning".

Littler has now finished school but says he finds the crowd's antics "funny".

The teenager became the youngest person to win a match at the World Championship when he defeated Christian Kist in the first round.

He also broke the record for having the highest average for a debutant at the competition with 106.12.

Littler revealed that his youth gives him at least one advantage: "Obviously I don't drink so it is a massive advantage over these pros who drink, they wake up with sore heads in the morning and I'm fine."

And while drink is off the table, he has his own signature celebration - fast food. After his debut win he ate a kebab and after his second-round victory he dug into a KFC.

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