LUKE LITTLER picked up his TENTH title in 11 months to become an oche millionaire.
The teen sensation blitzed Martin Lukeman with 15 legs in succession to win 16-3, taking the Grand Slam of Darts on his debut in Wolverhampton.
"This is SUBLIME" 🔥
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Luke Littler takes out a 124 with ease and we're all level at 2-2 👀 pic.twitter.com/LhocqH0dBq
Luke Littler has won the first major ranking title of his career
He has become a teenage millionaire by winning the tournament
Littler is up to fifth in the world rankings
AlamyMartin Lukeman lost 15 legs on the bounce as he had no answer for Littler[/caption]
Littler, 17, had overcome Gary Anderson in an epic semi-final deciding leg and then completed the job against battling ‘Smash’ to seal the £150,000 jackpot.
It continues an incredible debut season for ‘The Nuke’ to take his prize money over the magical £1million mark and he’s also now up to No.5 in the world rankings – having been No.164 a year ago.
Littler, who also hit a new Slam tournament record of 60 180s, said: “I’m just so glad to win it. I’ve been playing well all week long. But it’s paid off.
“I’ve always got to have the scoring power with me. I can’t afford to drop off in any leg. I had a slow start but I kicked on from there.
“I knew coming into the tournament if I did get my hands on the trophy I’d be up to No.5 in the world. But No.5 in the space of 12 months. There’s another two more rankings tournaments to come. I hope I can go higher from five.”
Lukeman, who won £70k, said: “He’s just different gravy. He’s brilliant isn’t he.”
In the clash of Luke boy vs Lukeman, it was the kid who was fast out of the traps hitting a 180 in each of the opening five legs to come from 2-0 down and take the next 15 legs.
For Lukeman, the writing was already on the wall as Littler re-wrote the record books.
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Inside Littler’s massive rise
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship at the beginning of the year.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age – smashing records along the way.
He has then gone on to win a host of PDC events and the Premier League title – which he claimed at the O2 Arena by beating world champion Luke Humphries in May.
He also finished his first season in the World Series as the No1 ranked player.
He has joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he’s even the face of a brand new cereal.
But he is newly single after splitting from girlfriend Eloise Milburn following a 10-month relationship.
Check out all of our latest Luke Littler stories.
‘The Nuke’ never looked like relinquishing control of the clash with a ruthless display peppered with 180s leaving Lukeman with just three darts at a double during that fifteen-leg romp.
In turned into an anti-climax as Littler ran riot and Lukeman finally got a leg. Littler duly wrapped it up with a double six.
Littler turned professional in January and, prior to the Slam, his fairytale run had accumulated £405,000 including reaching the World Championship final with £200k winnings, and becoming the youngest-ever Premier League champ in May, earning him another £315,000.
Plus playing on the World Series of Darts tour, with trips to New York, New Zealand and Australia, saw him pocket £150,000.
Littler joins an elite club with only Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright having won ten titles in a PDC calendar year.
Littler reached the final after the match of the year, showing his mettle in a thrilling semi-final clash with Anderson.
The Scot had taken a grip of the match to lead 13-9 and seemingly on the way to the final.
But somehow Littler found an extra gear to win four of the last five legs to snatch the victory.
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