Luke Littler has announced that he will not be attending the upcoming BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards despite being a nominee for the top honor. Instead, he has voiced his support for Lando Norris to clinch the prestigious prize.
Known as ‘The Nuke,’ the 18-year-old is among the six contenders for the award, competing against notable names such as Rory McIlroy, Chloe Kelly, Hannah Hampton, and Ellie Kildunne. Although Littler was also nominated last year, he narrowly missed out to Keely Hodgkinson, the Olympic gold medalist.
Despite his remarkable achievements this year, Littler’s focus remains on his upcoming match with either Mario Vandenbogaerde or David Davies, scheduled just 48 hours after the award ceremony on December 18.
When asked about the awards ceremony, Littler stated, “No. I’m not going. I’m not going to it. I think they know. I think obviously the people in the top three on the betting odds will obviously go there and I think Lando will win. I think I’ve only missed out on four majors this year. So if I’d won them, do I win it? Who knows – but good luck to whoever’s going to win it.”
Littler’s immediate plans involve relaxing at home, with a side trip to watch Manchester United play against Bournemouth on Monday night. As a dedicated Red Devils fan, he recently attended the sold-out away game at Molineux, where Manchester United triumphed 4-1, causing a stir on social media.
Responding to skeptics questioning his ticket acquisition, Littler clarified, “I mean, everyone just jumps on everything. They don’t know anything. I put something out there (on social media) to thank Adidas for the tickets because no one knows. And then when I put it on, they’re like, ‘Oh, you’re just trying to cover it up.’ But the tickets were off Adidas. From what I heard, as kit manufacturers Adidas give a certain amount of tickets out a year, home and away, to whoever they want. So they chose me, gave me three tickets for Wolves away.”
Littler recently secured a 3-0 victory over Darius Labanauskas at Ally Pally and also had an encounter with a wasp during his post-match interview with Sky. Reflecting on his performance, he expressed, “It definitely wasn’t easy and I’m happy with the win. There were a few nerves but once you win a leg and win a set, it settles you down. That first set was crucial against the darts. Everyone in the tournament wants to get through the first round. It’s definitely the hardest game – it doesn’t matter who you play. If you don’t play well, you’re not going to win, so I’m very happy with that.”
As the World Darts Championship approaches, fans can anticipate a thrilling competition with Littler returning to defend his title amidst fierce competition from rival Luke Humphries. The event promises excitement and features various insightful previews and interviews with key figures in the darts world.