LUKE LITTLER has picked out the “game that really mattered” on his journey to becoming the youngest ever PDC world champion.
The 17-year-old beat three-time winner Michael van Gerwen 7-3 on Friday night in the second Ally Pally final of his one-year professional career.
But Littler immediately revealed that his pre-Christmas win over world No.60 Ryan Meikle was his toughest test.
Just moments after defeating MVG, Littler said: “I said in interviews that I needed to get to a quick start and that’s what I did.
“Michael was behind me, he was right behind me the whole way through.
“The first game against Ryan Meikle was the game that really mattered. Throughout I have settled.
“At 2-0 up, I started getting nervous, but I told myself to relax. To get it over and done with, that was special.”
Littler was overcome with emotion after dramatically beating 28-year-old barber Meikle 3-1 in the second round on December 21.
The teenage sensation broke down in tears and could barely speak to Sky Sports after making it through his first game.
He then walked over to embrace his parents Lisa and Anthony Buckley and buried his face in their arms.
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Littler later admitted that it was the crippling nerves of an early exit that got to him as entered the competition as favourite.
When asked why that was the case, Littler said: “All week I was looking forward, excited to play on stage, no nerves.
“The train journey down here was fine, just being myself.
“And then as soon as I got on that stage, it was like, ‘I don’t want to be here.’ Just in my head.”
Littler went on to edge past Ian White before narrowly seeing off Ryan Joyce and crushing Nathan Aspinall.
He then cruised past Liverpool fan Stephen Bunting in the semi-final and outclassed MVG in the final.
Littler, who has banked more than £1.5million in prize money since turning pro in January 2024, was handed the trophy by six-time Olympic cycling champion Chris Hoy, who has Stage Four prostate cancer.
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