Luke Littler on media attention, his meteoric rise to fame and bringing new fans to darts

Key Concepts

• Life Changes: Significant personal and material changes over two years due to darts career.
• Material Changes: Acquisition of a new BMW 1 Series.
• Driving Test: Comparison of nerves between a driving test and a darts match, with the former being less nerve-wracking due to familiarity with routes.
• Nerves and Enjoyment: The player's perspective on nerves, emphasizing enjoyment of the game and the walk-on experience.
• Chasing the Scoreboard: The ability to perform best under pressure and when behind in a match.
• World Number One: Declaration of being the best after achieving the world number one ranking, supported by recent major wins.
• Fun vs. Profession: The balance between enjoying darts as a passion and its current status as a professional career.
• Practice and Improvement: The player's current satisfaction with performance despite not dedicating significant practice time.
• Impact on Darts Popularity: The player's role in the surge of interest and increased ticket sales in darts.

Personal Life and Material Changes

The interviewee discusses how their life has changed "massively" over the past two years, primarily for the better, impacting both themselves and their family. While initially finding the media attention tough, they have become accustomed to it. Materially, a significant change has been passing their driving test and purchasing a brand-new BMW 1 Series. This car represents a part of their life outside of darts, which the public typically doesn't see, emphasizing that they are "just the same person" off-stage.

Driving Test vs. Darts Match Nerves

When asked to compare the nerve-wracking nature of their driving test to a high-pressure darts match, such as needing a double 10 to win a tournament, the interviewee states the driving test was "very easy." This was due to familiarity with the specific routes around Warrington, as their driving instructor had used them during lessons, and the test route was the same. This contrasts with the intense pressure of a darts final.

Managing Nerves and Enjoying the Game

The interviewee claims not to experience significant nerves during matches, stating, "I wouldn't say there's really any nerves. I just I enjoy it." They express a love for "producing my best darts" and the experience of "walking on seeing the fans." The philosophy is to avoid putting pressure on oneself, with the mindset that "If you win, you win. If you lose, you lose."

The "Chasing the Scoreboard" Phenomenon

A key aspect of their game highlighted is the ability to perform exceptionally well when behind on the scoreboard, a trait described as the "holy grail for all sports people." The interviewee explains this by stating that losing is "not a good feeling," and they are driven to "get yourself out of them situation[s]" and "get yourself back into the game." They are "good at um turning it up a notch or two" to gain an advantage and win.

Achieving World Number One Status

Upon becoming the world number one a couple of weeks prior to the interview, the interviewee publicly declared, "I am the best." They explain this statement by reiterating their belief that "whoever's number one, you're the best in the world." They acknowledge Luke Grey's consistent performance throughout the year but assert their current status, supported by winning "the last three four majors this year." All eyes are now on the Ally Pally (Alexandra Palace, likely referring to the World Darts Championship).

Darts as a Profession and Maintaining Fun

The interviewee acknowledges that darts has become a "proper job" and a "business." However, they maintain that enjoyment is crucial for performance: "I think once again I've said if you're not enjoying it then you're not going to play your best darts." They believe that enjoying the game leads to winning more and enhances the overall experience compared to other players. Currently, things are "going really well."

Practice and Potential for Improvement

When questioned about whether they can still improve, the interviewee states that with "the practice in," they "probably could get better." However, they are currently "happy with with how I'm doing." When pressed on their practice habits, they admit, "Not really. I'll be honest." This admission is met with surprise, highlighting their success despite a perceived lack of intensive practice.

Impact on Darts Popularity

The interviewee expresses that it is "impressive" how many people have become interested in darts because of them. They recall the initial "crazy" surge in involvement and note that the support has remained consistent since their first World Championships game. The increased interest is evident in tickets selling out "as quick as they ever have done," attributing this phenomenon to their influence.

Conclusion

The interviewee's life has undergone significant positive changes, marked by material gains like a new car and professional success, including reaching world number one. They attribute their ability to perform under pressure to a drive to overcome losing situations and a strong enjoyment of the game, which they believe is essential for peak performance, even as darts has become a profession. Despite not dedicating extensive practice time, they are content with their current performance and acknowledge their substantial impact on the growing popularity of darts.