TWO-TIME world major winner Dimitri Van den Bergh’s little brother Xanti is making his own mark in darts – starring alongside teenage sensation Luke Littler.
Littler, 18, blew away world No. 1 Luke Humphries in a 6-1 win on Sunday night to clinch the World Grand Prix title.
Littler poses with the trophy after beating world No. 1 Luke Humphries in the finalGetty
Immediately after his win, Littler shocked fans by revealing he’d head to Wigan, just 15 minutes from his Warrington home, to compete in the World Youth Championship qualifiers.
The Nuke’s decision raised some eyebrows after he’d previously said he had “quite little to gain” from playing in the Youth event again, after defeating Dutchman Gian van Veen two years ago for the title.
Littler still qualifies for the competition even at world No. 2 as the tournament is for players aged 16-23.
Littler was looking to snatch the title off Van Veen, who won the title in Littler’s absence last year.
Fans described Littler’s decision as: “Elite s***housery.”
Joining him on the stage is Xanti Van den Bergh, 21, ten years younger than his two-time world major winner brother, Dimitri.
Xanti has been tipped to follow in his brother’s footsteps but he insists he will not be living in his brother’s shadow.
He said: “I’m plotting my own career, and I’m doing pretty well.”
Dimitri Van den Berghs little brother is following in his brothers footstepsGetty
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The young Belgian proved himself after storming to his first WDF title at the Swedish Open in August, seeing off seven rivals to lift the trophy.
The breakthrough win put him on the darting map and he had his eyes set on the World Youth Championships.
Xanti headed into the qualifiers ready to prove himself but his run hit a bump in the road – losing 5-4 to Danny Jensen and England‘s Jamie McKinnon.
He did pick up one victory by edging a 5-4 win against Cayden Smith but it wasn’t enough to qualify for the next round.
The tournament didn’t go to plan for Littler either.
His dreams of a world championship double were ended when he was knocked out by tungsten star Beau Greaves in a classic.
Two of the most exciting young talents in world darts met on the oche at the Robin Park Leisure Centre.
And in the semi-finals, Greaves sealed a memorable 6-5 victory over Littler, coming from 5-4 down, to book her spot in next month’s final.
It was the first time the multiple women’s world champion, 21, had got one over Littler, having lost their first clash on the ProTour in August.
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