Luke Littler has said that he is “taking a step back” from darts, with the 18-year-old announcing the news in a video on social media. But all is not quite as it seems. The Nuke’s comments appear to be part of a PR campaign, with the teenage sensation ending the video by whispering off-screen: “Do you think they’ll fall for that?”
Littler has transformed the sport of darts since bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old at the 2024 World Darts Championship. The talented player was virtually unheard of entering the tournament but reached the final before losing to Luke Humphries. He returned to Alexandra Palace a year later and clinched silverware after thrashing Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the showpiece match at the start of this year.
Littler spoke to the camera in a video posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday afternoon as he addressed his fans. The 18-year-old remained straight-faced throughout the 50-second video as he sat in a chair with three darts in his hands.
And as downbeat music played in the background, he explained: “I’ve had an awesome career, I couldn’t ask much better for myself.
“You know it’s been full on for two years, I’ve done many great things – the Premier League at the age of 17 on debut, the nine darters on telly, winning the World Championship, the youngest to ever do it.
“I just want to say thanks for all my fans, the support over the last two years has been phenomenal. It will shock some people that I’m taking a step back. It’s not been an easy decision. Now I want to focus and do something that I really, really love.”
But as Littler walked out of shot, he could be heard exclaiming: “Do you think they’ll fall for that?”
The video left his followers on X wondering what he might be alluding to, with many fans speculating he may have a role in the launch of computer game EA FC 26.
Others wondered whether he had been enticed to appear in this year’s edition of Strictly Come Dancing, while one X user even joked he was being lined up to become the next Manchester United manager.
Littler was last in darts action at the weekend as he reached the final of the World Series Finals in Amsterdam. The teenager ultimately missed out on silverware as he was beaten 11-7 by Van Gerwen, with the Dutchman gaining revenge for his World Championship final defeat in January.