When, in Spring 2025, we decided to dedicate a supplement to ‘The Year of The Nuke’ there was one obvious problem… Which year did we mean!
You could easily make a case for 2024 being Luke’s year. World final, Pro Tour debut, World Series wins, European Tour wins, perfect legs aplenty and much much more. You could also trace his unstoppable rise back to his back-to-back triumphs in the MODUS Super Series in the summer of 2023.
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All these option may well soon be utterly eclipsed by the year in which we are part way through. It is looking more and more likely that The Nuclear Slam, as DW dubbed it, is on. Surely that would end all debate and necessitate another supplement:
“I sometimes say every 17 years a star is born, and Luke is one of them,”
Michael van Gerwen
Luke Littler produced a sensational display to defeat Michael van Gerwen 7-3 and clinch the 2024/25 Paddy Power World Darts Championship title at the Alexandra Palace in January.
The teenage trailblazer fulfilled his darting destiny in a generational clash, averaging 102 to overcome the Dutchman and write his name into the history-books.
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The absence of Steve Beaton for the first time in decades symbolised a transition between the eras as several lower ranked players broke through to the later stages.
Littler had been beaten by Luke Humphries a year ago to the day, and having vowed to bounce back, he backed up those claims with a virtuoso performance.
There was nothing to separate Littler and Van Gerwen in terms of their head-to-head record going into the showpiece final. But, the teenager showed of the fearlessness of youth and punished some early frailties from Van Gerwen to storm into a 4-0 lead, and while the Dutch superstar battled back bravely, he was unable to seriously threaten a famous victory.
Littler now also succeeded Van Gerwen in becoming the youngest ever (PDC) World Darts Champion, after the Dutchman had lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy for the first time at the age of 24.
“Since the winning double went in, I just can’t believe it,” admitted Littler, the 13th player to win the World Darts Championship.
“I can tell myself I’ve won it and that trophy is mine, but it’s not sunk in yet.
Littler paid tribute to the Dutch icon following his groundbreaking win.
“He was hungry for his fourth World Championship title, but to pick up my first and become the youngest ever champion – it’s an incredible feeling.
“I sometimes say every 17 years a star is born, and Luke is one of them,” claimed a gracious Van Gerwen.
“You have to move on, and you have to walk off the stage also as a champion. I always take my hat off to people.
“Of course it hurts and that’s how it should be, because if it doesn’t hurt then you’re not going to be a sportsman.
‘The Nuke’ created more global headlines on his Alexandra Palace return, becoming only the seventh player in PDC history to make back-to-back World Championship finals.
The Warrington trailblazer edged out Ryan Joyce in a dramatic seventh-set decider in the last 16, but since then he’s been imperious in wins over Nathan Aspinall and Stephen Bunting.
Littler averaged 103 in overcoming his stablemate Aspinall in the quarter-finals, before dispatching Bunting in merciless fashion to celebrate a 6-1 success in the last four.
MVG had enjoyed a simpler run to the final defeating James Hurrell, Brendan Dolan, Jeffrey de Graaf, Callan Rydz and Chris Dobey en route to the final.
Several runs had excited darts fans either in the audience or watching broadcasts. Robert Owen stepped in at the last minute and went on a superb run to not only reach the L16, and earn his biggest paycheck in darts,but also to retain his tour card after injury and despite a very hostile Ally Pally crowd.
Owen’s eventual KO came at the hands of Callan Rydz who has had a truly torrid time with injury and loss of form since breaking through at the top level. The Riot averaged over 100 at almost every attempt as was perhaps the player of the event up to the quarter finals.
Stephen Bunting’s repeat run to the last 4 both showed that his previous semifinal appearance was no fluke. The Master champion underlined his resurgence in form and suggested it is likely to continue past the 2024/25 season.
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Despite all the breakthroughs the last 16 proved the bridge too far for all but Rydz, other than the last 8 was made up of former world champions and major or tv event winners with Littler looking untroubled after that tense but entertaining battle with Ryan Joyce.
Perhaps, after the gripping but disappointing, for the 17-year-old, climax 12 months ago and the ceiling smashing, trophy lifting year the Warrington Wonder has produced, it was destiny that saw him complete the journey.
The Year of The Nuke was now complete or was it just starting……?
Words: DW Editorial
Originally published in DartsWorld 589
Images: Kieran Cleeves / PDC
