The World Series of Darts event cut quite the contrast with the bustle of Ally Pally but the teenager was up to the challenge
Luke Littler is already mature enough to understand that not every experience in his darting career would be quite as exhilarating as his unforgettable breakthrough into the sporting stratosphere a few weeks ago. But had that thought entered his mind amid a litany of mainstream media attention and worldwide headlines, his first official night as a professional player would have represented a bristling reality check.
Barely a fortnight ago, Littler was playing in the biggest match of them all, the final of the World Darts Championship after a series of astonishing performances that left the world in awe of the 16-year-old’s ability. And while he came up short against Luke Humphries that night, Littler is the talk of the sport and is arguably already transcending the game he makes look ridiculously easy on occasions – which is why it was perhaps no surprise that the Professional Darts Corporation wasted little time in cashing in on that momentum.