LUKE LITTLER has promised to give his ex-coach a brilliant present if he continues his remarkable rise to stardom.
Littler, 16, enjoyed a stunning run to the PDC World Darts Championship final over the New Year.
Though he lost to Luke Humphries in the final, the Warrington teenager still won the hearts of the nation.
He also pocketed a cool £200,000 in prize money.
And now he has vowed to repay his former mentor Karl Holden from the St Helens Darts Academy with a generous gift if he can go one better in a future world championship and get hold of the Sid Waddell Trophy.
Littler told the BBC: “It’s just all come from this man.
“We started off at the beginning and this is where I am now.
“So hopefully when I do win the Worlds, I’ll pay him a bit.”
Littler started playing darts as a toddler and thanks Holden for his coaching throughout his childhood, with the sensation catching attention for hitting nine-darters at a ridiculously young age.
Holden, meanwhile, is immensely proud of the child darts prodigy.
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He said: “It’s always good being around him.
“We’ve always given the lad good advice but to get to the final and watching him was pretty special for everybody.
“He was ten and we had to shove him in the Under-21s because his ability was just too good for anyone else.”
Holden earlier admitted he had to change the rules to accommodate Littler.
He added: “We had a rule that you had to be over 15 to go on stage.
“But he broke all the rules. We had to put him up with the U21s before he was age 11 because he was that good.
“He’s a sensational player and a naturally gifted player as well.
“It’s not been a huge surprise to those who really know him, but to the rest of the world it’s a bit of a surprise how he’s done that well so quickly at the age of 16.
“I think this is just the start to be honest
“He’s not going down and he’s not levelled off, he’s still going up and getting better which must be a big concern for some of the PDC players he will be playing against next year.”
Littler had a whopping £83,000 chunk of the £200,000 earnings taken off him by the tax man.
But that would not have stopped him from splashing out for the three modest things on his ultimate shopping list after the PDC event.
Littler wanted to put the money towards tracksuits, a new coat and FC 24 points.
Now the 16-year-old is preparing to make his return to the oche in Bahrain.
After meeting icon Sir Alex Ferguson at the weekend, Manchester United fan Littler travelled in style to the Middle East.
He faces world No126 Man Lok Leung from Hong Kong in his opening match at the Bahrain Darts Masters – although it will not be shown live on TV.
The teenager – who also revealed David Beckham sent him a message – will then take his place in the upcoming £1million Premier League season for four months after earning his spot in the eight-man competition.
