Luke Littler, 16, demolishes Rob Cross to storm into World Darts Championship final and will play for mega £500k jackpot
MOVE OVER, Emma Raducanu. Step aside Michael Owen. Off you pop, Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Has someone ever emphatically fulfilled their sporting dreams at such a young age as Luke Littler is doing right now?
Is this kebab-loving Kid the greatest teenage sensation we have ever witnessed in the history of British sport?
Well, it would be hard to argue against that if he is lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy on Wednesday evening against odds of 150-1 and his bank account swells to the tune of £500,000.
Rob Cross, the eighth-best player on the planet, was supposed to have offered more resistance and resilience as befits a former world champion.
And yet like five other shell-shocked men before him, he was swatted aside and booted out of Ally Pally by the relentless scoring efficiency of Luke The Nuke.
Electric Voltage was no match for NUKE-clear power as prodigious Littler prevailed 6-2 on an another insane night of darting drama.
What he has done with three arrows in his hands over this past fortnight has turned the Warrington ace into the most famous teenager in the world.
His underdog story, on his debut appearance, six months after leaving secondary school, has captivated the global sporting public.
What he is doing could, in the eyes of some domestically, eclipse Raducanu’s US Open triumph (aged 18), Michael Owen’s solo World Cup goal (18) and the Rocket’s first major success (17) in 1993.
So many people can relate to this young lad who is trying to win big money, fulfil a childhood dream – even though he IS still a minor – and ignore what is written on his birth certificate.
When you first see Littler, with his prop-sized shoulders and thick beard, you think he is 26.
When you first speak to Littler, you realise he is just an average 16-year-old.
Someone who likes throwing darts and playing the Xbox computer in his bedroom.
Not hanging round park benches and smoking or drinking like some of his peers.
Progressing as far as no-one as young as him has ever done before is some achievement.
Yet this Boy Wonder is desperate for more, determined to become the first teen world champion in the sport, something he can do with more seven sets in the finale.
After braving Storm Henk to reach the top of this North London hill, we all wondered how would Littler respond to adversity having had it all his own way throughout these Championships.
In his previous five games, he had won the opening two sets but Cross, averaging 108.67, took a 1-0 lead thanks to a successful double 16.
Incredibly, it was the first time Littler had been behind in terms of sets in the entire tournament.
In set two, Cross had one dart, on the Bullseye, to move 2-0 up but he missed the centre of the board and Littler won the next two legs to restore parity.
Littler’s tail was up now and after a tremendous 142, which was accompanied by a soundtrack of LUUUKKKEEE, he found the outer rim for the third set.
Another big moment was the explosive 149 taken out in leg three of set four before he earned clear daylight by moving 3-1 ahead.
Cross – whose eldest son is only four years younger than Littler – came from 4-0 down to prevail 5-4 against crestfallen Chris Dobey in the quarter-finals.
And the former electrician, 33, may have dreamt of another fabulous and furious comeback when, boosted by a 138, he won the fifth set.
But Littler – branded the “Dragon Slayer” by his opponent pre-match – was having none of that and he won sets six, seven and eight in relentless, clinical fashion.
This was no fluke by Luke and the 132 score – two bulls and double 16 – in set eight was out of this world.
For someone who left school only last summer, Littler continues to school his rivals on the biggest stage of them all, sealing a magnificent victory on double 10 and with an average of 106.05.
As the 3,100-strong fancy-dress contingent went ballistic at watching history being made, Littler celebrated one gigantic achievement with his family and closest friends.
Those teenage kicks went right through the night, all right.
The fairy tale continues – and it could have one almighty happy ending should Littler lift the big one tomorrow.