‘The Glastonbury of sport’: Luke Littler effect takes darts to new heights

A peak audience viewing of 2.5m watched the world championship final on Sky as Luke Litter routed Gian van Veen 7-1 to retain his title

If further proof was needed about the burgeoning popularity of Luke Littler and darts, it came with early viewing figures from Barb that showed the 18-year-old’s second world title victory on Saturday night was watched by a peak audience of 2.5m on Sky.

They are huge numbers in a sport that, not so long ago, would have been delighted with anything over a million. That is the Littler effect in action. But after thrashing the Dutch player Gian van Veen 7-1 in the final, he promised that his latest success – and the £1m first prize, a record for his sport – would not change him.

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