Teenage sensation has captured public imagination to such an extent that his grandmother has been in the news
As Luke Littler made his way to the stage at the start of the biggest evening of his life (until the next one) he shared hugs with those closest to him: his mum, his dad, and, in an unexpected twist, Wolfie, the Warrington Wolves mascot.
Wolfie had turned up in mid-afternoon with a couple of the team’s players to offer Little some pre-match encouragement and had then stuck around, perhaps enjoying the anonymity: Alexandra Palace in darts season is one of the few places someone in full wolf costume barely attracts a second glance. Besides, all eyes were on one man. Well, child.