Luke Littler, the teenage superstar who made a remarkable run to the World Darts Championship final, has revealed that he received a ‘crazy’ request from Rio Ferdinand. Despite losing to Luke Humphries in the final, Littler won the hearts of many with his victories over top players like Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross.
Littler’s impressive performance has quickly made him a household name, earning him £200,000 in prize money and a spot in this year’s Premier League of Darts. He shared with BBC Sport that he has been flooded with messages from celebrities, including Ferdinand and various YouTube stars, who want him to appear on their podcasts.
In addition to Ferdinand, Littler mentioned that JaackMaate and Angry Ginge have also expressed interest in having him on their podcasts. He was amazed by the support he received from Luke Shaw and Jesse Lingard, both of whom are Manchester United players.
Littler, a Manchester United fan himself, revealed that even David Beckham reached out to him with a message of support before the World Darts Championship final. Beckham’s message, which said “Good luck, Luke – once a Red, always a Red,” meant a lot to Littler.
Starting the tournament ranked 164th in the world, Littler’s impressive performance has catapulted him to 31st in the rankings. As a result, he has earned a place on the prestigious Premier League tour, where he will compete against seven of the world’s top players.
Littler expressed his excitement about joining the Premier League tour, mentioning that playing in front of large crowds and facing the best players in the world is a dream come true. He is particularly looking forward to playing in venues like the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Cardiff, and Brighton.
Despite the challenges he may face, such as playing against Gerwyn Price in Cardiff with the crowd on his side, Littler is confident in his abilities and is determined to show why he deserves to be part of the Premier League every week.
Overall, Littler’s fairytale run in the World Darts Championship has garnered him attention from celebrities and fans alike, and he is eager to continue making a name for himself in the world of darts.