CASH KING

LUKE LITTLER earned a whopping £8,000 PER DAY during a stunning trophy-laden three-week spell – despite not practising!

The Nuke, 18, is banking the type of eye-watering money that Premier League footballers usually earn following a Mad March on the oche.

Not only did he win the UK Open (£110,000) and Belgian Darts Open (£30,000) but he celebrated two nightly wins, at £10,000 per evening, in Brighton and Cardiff in the Premier League Darts.

In total, including his displays at two ProTours in Leicester, he has earned £166,000 in prize money between February 28 and March 20.

Littler won 25 of his 28 matches, losing in two Players Championship events and then going down to Gerwyn Price in the Nottingham Prem final last week.

He will also receive a set of £30,000 18ct gold darts from bookies BetMGM for his stunning perfect leg in Thursday’s final against Michael van Gerwen.

A feat that he had predicted he would pull one off with a rare double-15 finish on his ninth dart.

What is also incredible is that Littler is choosing to lay down his darts and take weeks off the board, deciding not to practice.

Littler said on TV last week he had not picked up the darts after playing in Nottingham, until he went to Cardiff.

He said: “I must admit, I have not picked up my darts since last Thursday. I had a week off to chill.”

The reigning world champion is also skipping the Euro Tour event in Germany this weekend and he said: “It’s just a case of just having days off.

“I can’t really see many dart players in the Premier League practising at home.

“Mostly, I think everyone’s going to the Euro Tour, which I’ve pulled out of. It’s just another chilled week off.

“Obviously, us players, we need to have the rest. I am going to chill out and then see how the darts fly in Newcastle next week.”

When he was told about the gold darts gimmick, Littler thought he would be able to throw them on the stage − until he was politely informed by the PDC it would be impractical.

He replied: “They are not throwable? That’s boring then, innit!

“It’s a special moment that the sponsors are doing them. I’m glad I’ve hit a nine-darter on TV for the first time this year.”

There has been speculation for a while now that the world champion’s prize money will be doubled from £500 000 to £1million, especially when the new £125m five-year Sky Sports deal kicks in. — Sun