FROM Alexandra Palace to the Royal Palaces, what an extraordinary ride it has been for Luke Littler.
Two years ago, he was just a normal, kebab-eating kid from Warrington who dreamt of one day making money from darts.
GettyLuke Littler has risen to the top of darts in a rapid rise[/caption]
PAHe became world champion in January[/caption]
What has happened since is one of the most sensational stories in British sport.
A shock World Championship final run in 2024, turning pro, taking the oche by storm, global popularity, the 2025 world title at just 17 and more than £2million in prize money and sponsorship.
Littler has even had novelty kebabs named in his honour.
And now he will go, by royal appointment, to collect an MBE as part of the King’s Birthday Honours list.
It is not often Littler swaps his darts shirts for a suit but, at 18 years old, he is one of the youngest people to be bestowed a gong by the Royal Family.
Littler’s ranking rival and England World Cup team-mate Luke Humphries, 30, is also set to receive an MBE.
They are two of only eight darts stars to have been acknowledged for their exploits.
The late Eric Bristow, John Lowe, Trina Gulliver, Fallon Sherrock, and Keith Deller are the other tungsten members of the British Empire.
Sixteen-time world champ Phil Taylor had been set to receive an MBE in 2001.
But his nomination was annulled after a controversial court case saw him found guilty of assaulting two female fans in the back of his camper van and fined £2,000.
BooHooLuke has a deal with boohooMAN[/caption]
He is also a multiple world-record holder
He will appear on Gogglebox alongside AngryGinge
Barry Hearn, the promotion mastermind behind darts’ global rise, got an MBE in December 2021 and pins it to his cricket bat when he plays for Essex over-70s.
And Deta Hedman is set to receive an OBE, having won world ranking titles in each of the five previous decades.
Honours committees have tended to be snobbish towards working-class sports like darts and snooker.
But with Littler’s five major titles, added to eight for Humphries — and two PDC world crowns between them — there is no denying their incredible impact.
Particularly Littler. Grown men wear his shirts, emblazoned with his nickname The Nuke, while magnetic dartboards with his face on them sold out.
As an amateur, he reached the Ally Pally world final — aged 16 — losing to world No .1 Humphries.
Littler’s rookie season was one of sport’s most incredible debut years, seeing him voted second behind Olympic 800 metres champion Keely Hodgkinson in BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Littler has been a credit to the sport, constantly polite and co-operative with the press, the PDC and their sponsors.
This kid from humble stock — his dad was a taxi driver, his mum worked in a Yankee Candle shop — now joins the establishment.
Who knows, maybe one day he will work his way all the way up to a knighthood?
Sir Luke Littler? That really does hit the bullseye.
What the Lukes said on their MBEs
Here are the reactions of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries on being awarded MBEs…
Luke Littler said: “This is an amazing and unexpected honour but one which I am very grateful for.
“To receive a recognition like this is something I had never thought would be possible, and it is a proud moment.
“It’s unbelievable what I’ve done for my sport; I’m happy, my family is happy and I can’t wait to receive it.
“Congratulations to Luke Humphries on receiving an MBE too – he’s a fantastic ambassador for darts, and although he’s a rival, I can’t wait to partner him in the World Cup this weekend.”
Humphries said: “I’m extremely honoured and delighted to be receiving an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to darts.
“To be recognised by the King for what I have achieved, and also for my contribution to playing in and promoting the sport that I love, is something that I never thought possible, but I’m very grateful that it has become a reality.
“I have enjoyed the highest of highs in darts in becoming world number one and winning the biggest tournaments that the game has to offer, but to be awarded the MBE will rank alongside any of those achievements.
“I have to give a massive thanks to my fiancée Kayley, and my family, particularly my mum and dad, who have been a constant source of support over the years and helped make me the person that I am today.
“To say that I’m looking forward to visiting Buckingham Palace is an understatement. To receive the MBE there with my family with me is something that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
“I’ll continue to be a good ambassador for darts, and help pave the way for future generations to be involved and succeed in a sport that has given so much to me.”
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