LUKE AND LEARN

NOT MANY lager-swilling, kebab-eating, costume-wearing darts fans would have known who Luke Littler was a year ago.

Only those who had been paying close attention to the fortunes of youth darts or perhaps chanced upon a behind-closed-doors streaming event would have had him on their radar.

Occasionally, a glimpse of his genius or showboating might have popped up on a social media feed but generally, he could have easily walked down the street without hassle.

Fast forward 12 months and all that has changed — what an incredible, unprecedented and thrilling transformative ride it has been for Littler.

Two months before he turns 18 — when he will be legally able to bet, drink and vote — and there are few places in the world that have not seen Littler in action.

As legendary referee Russ Bray noted, there are “people in remote Guatemalan villages who have heard of the teen sensation”.

Winning the Grand Slam of Darts on Sunday night was an extraordinary achievement and only strengthened his growing legend and status on the oche.

Arguably he is the most exciting teenager in world sport, having banked more than £1million in prize money across 11 months.

Since mid-January, he has won TEN titles, become Premier League champion, broke numerous age-records and celebrated a joint-record FOUR nine-dart finishes.

What he did at Ally Pally last Christmas was exceptional and ground-breaking — he raced into the world final on his debut and was THREE sets away from surprising champion and world No.1 Luke Humphries.

But what has been equally impressive is how he has backed it all up — that run was no fluke.

And as the countdown to the Paddy Power World Darts Championship hots up — it starts in 27 days — Littler is the tournament favourite at 2/1 to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy.

Gary Anderson, who Littler beat in a last-leg decider in the Grand Slam of Darts semi-finals, is 36 years older at the age of 53.

Phil Taylor, who is now retired, won his 16th world crown aged 52.

That means Littler could carry on for more than three decades and wrack up enough titles — and more bling than Bobby George — to fill the new family mansion.

The only thing perhaps stopping him is his own motivation and desire, and whether he wants to continue the hard slog for 10, 20 or 30 years, especially when there are many pitfalls to being a celebrity.

Yet the magnanimous Martin Lukeman — who was thrashed 16-3 in the Wolverhampton final — was surprised by how his young rival prepared for this showdown. — Sun.