16-year-old Luke Littler lands yet another massive pay day as he wins semi final of World Darts Championship

Luke Littler has landed yet another massive pay day as he makes it through to the final of the PDC World Darts Championship.

The 16-year-old lad from Cheshire faced 2018 champion Rob Cross in his semi-final match tonight (2 January).

After walking out to his tune of 'Greenlight' by Pitbull and having a hug with his local rugby team's mascot, Littler started off the match with a loss as Cross claimed the first set.

But the semi-final was soon equal again as the lad won the second.

After a third set win, there were absolutely sensational scenes in the fourth set when Littler took out a 149 to win again.

Then, after Cross made a comeback, all pressure was on as the 16-year-old took the seventh set with a two-dart 50 finish meaning if he won the eight set, he was through to the final.

And lads, he did it! Littler won 6-2 in sets and with that, secured himself a whopping £200,000.

Dependent on who wins the second semi-final match later tonight, the Nuke will face Luke Humphries or Scott Williams in the final.

Luke ‘the Nuke’ already made history when he became the youngest person to win a quarter final game at the World Darts Championships.

And this all happened after he faced one of his own heroes, Raymond van Barneveld.

Tom Dulat/Getty Images

After beating the Dutchman, Littler said: “It's incredible beating one of my idols on the biggest stage of all, I still can't believe it. I think I am daring to dream now, I have seen the draw.

“I'm so young, only 16 and I have got nothing to fear, I have got no one to fear, my game can be better than anyone's on the day and I have shown it there against one of the greatest to have graced that stage.

“With performances like that I can go all the way. I've pictured myself winning it.

"I fancy myself. I do fancy myself." Well that picturing certainly came true.

As fans chant ‘you’ve got school in the morning’ at Ally Pally, Littler has already had quite the boost to his bank account during the 2023/24 PDC World Darts Championship.

Winning the quarter-final 5-1 against Brendan Dolan, the lad first secured a whopping £100,000.

Tonight's semi-final win took that prize to £200,000, and if Littler goes all the way in tomorrow's final, he'll bag a staggering £500,000.

Tom Dulat/Getty Images

Littler started playing darts when he was just a toddler, and judging from a video found of him during that time, he wasn’t a bad player even then.

15 years later and the champ has gone on to become a sensation in the Paddy Power World Championship - with incredible wins over the likes of Dutch professional Christian Kist and the UK Open champion Andrew Gilding.

And the PDC World Youth Champion has performed so well up against more experienced players - cementing the teen as one of the favourites to win the tournament.

After winning his quarter final match, Littler said: “Afterwards, he said: "It's gone well today. Another tonne-plus average. I've got a good chance. Now I'm dreaming. I'm two matches away. I'm dreaming of winning the title."

Topics: Money, Sport, UK News, World News, Luke Littler

Jess Battison

Jess is an Entertainment Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include keeping up with the Twitter girlies, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021 and has previously worked at MyLondon.

@jessbattison_