Luke Littler has taken the darts world by storm, and after widespread doubts about his real age, the 16-year-old has provided his birth certificate.
Littler's rise to the top has been nothing short of spectacular, as the 16-year-old darts prodigy has shown no signs of slowing down as he has brushed aside some of the top players in the world.
He's set to compete in the world championship final tonight which could see him take home £500,000 ($630,000). Despite this, some people refused to believe he was really 16, thinking he looks much older.
Taking to social media, one person expressed: "There’s absolutely no way that he is only 16," while a second added: "There is no way this father of 3 is 16 years old."
Rumors about Littler's age have now been put to bed as an image of his birth certificate surfaced on social media, confirming the wunderkind's birth on January 21, 2007, at North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust Warrington.
The confirmation of Littler's age has left fans in disbelief throughout the tournament. Comments such as "generational talent," "out of this world," and "absolutely ridiculous" have flooded social media, reflecting the astonishment of supporters witnessing his exceptional skills at such a young age.
Reflecting on his victory in the semi-final, Littler expressed his amazement at the journey, stating: "It’s been a crazy ride. I’m still standing. I’m in one of the biggest finals in the world. I was happy winning one game, but I could go all the way! I have surprised myself. I have thrown big averages on the floor all year around.
"I’m pleased to bring it on the biggest stage of them all. It would be beyond unbelievable to win this. I only set my goal to win one game and then come back after Christmas."
Tonight's final will see Littler facing off against the new world number one Luke Humphries, who solidified his position with a commanding 6-0 win against Scott Williams.
Littler's journey into darts began at an astonishingly young age, throwing his first dart at just 18 months old. Born in Runcorn and residing in Warrington, Littler quickly outgrew age categories due to his exceptional talent, catching the eye of former coach Karl Holden from the St Helens Darts Academy.
"By the time he was 10, we knew he was too good for his age," said Holden in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live.
After finishing his GCSEs last summer, Littler has focused wholeheartedly on his darting career, impressively reaching the last 16 by defeating five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld in the UK Open earlier this year.
Ranked joint-164th before the World Championship, Littler's magical run is set to propel him more than 100 places in the rankings. A tournament win could see him breaking into the top 10.
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