Luke Littler has expressed his 'crazy' surprise after being shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
The young darts sensation has a chance to win the coveted award, alongside sports stars such as Jude Bellingham, Joe Root, Keely Hodgkinson, Sarah Storey and Alex Yee.
At just 17 years old, Littler is among the favorites to take home the award, an impressive feat considering he was relatively unknown just a year ago. His meteoric rise began at the 2024 World Darts Championship where he dazzled fans with his performance, reaching the final before being defeated by Luke Humphries.
Since then, Littler has only continued to rise. He has won ten PDC titles, including major victories in the Premier League, Grand Slam of Darts and World Series finals, and he goes into the Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship as overwhelming favourite. This string of triumphs earned him a nod for the SPOTY award, leaving the teenager in awe.
The Warrington prodigy responded via Instagram to his nomination, which also includes a nod to the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, and summarized his feelings succinctly, the Express reports.
“This is MADDDD,” Littler exclaimed. “First Young Sports Personality and now Sports Personality of the Year… a huge thank you to BBC Sport for nominating me. Never thought I'd say that.”
Littler has been named as one of the top contenders for the Young Sports Personality of the Year award, which was announced last week, alongside experienced skateboarder Sky Brown and talented para-swimmer William Ellard.
Littler's stunned reaction shows just how rapid and fantastic his rise has been, from honing his skills on the JDC and Modus Super Series circuits to claiming the No. 4 spot in the world.
Now he is among six hopefuls vying for the prestigious BBC prize, although bookmakers are touting Olympic hero Hodgkinson as his biggest rival for the award. Either way, Littler rubs shoulders with sporting giants such as Champions League winner and Real Madrid sensation Bellingham, as well as one of England's greatest batsmen, Root.
Littler will discover his fate on December 17, when Gabby Logan, joined by Alex Scott and Clare Balding, will host the show live from Salford's MediaCityUK. In Littler's corner will be fellow darts player and reigning world champion Luke Humphries, who will take center stage at the awards ceremony later this month, behind his compatriot.
'I will go and I will support him [Littler]”And if he wins, it will be good for the sport,” Humphries promised Sporting Life. “It's nice to be invited, I think they recognize it a bit, what I have achieved.
“Another kudos to the sport. Keely Hodgkinson is probably going to win it, isn't he? But I think Luke could at least win Young Sports Personality of the Year if he doesn't win the main one. That's still nice to have for yourself to have.”
Littler himself also weighed in on his chances at the upcoming ceremony, noting, “It would be a big thing for myself, but I haven't really looked into it.” [it] too many.
'The person who comes first. Is it a runner? People don't really classify us [darts players] Like athletes, right? So if I'm second [favourite] to win it, that's enough.”
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