Luke Littler has shared that he will not be attending the upcoming BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, despite being nominated for the prestigious accolade. Instead, Littler has predicted that Lando Norris will clinch the top prize.
At just 18 years old, ‘The Nuke’ is among the six contenders for the coveted award, competing against the likes of Norris, Rory McIlroy, Chloe Kelly, Hannah Hampton, and Ellie Kildunne. Although he was nominated last year and narrowly missed out to Keely Hodgkinson, Littler’s main focus remains on his upcoming match with either Mario Vandenbogaerde or David Davies, scheduled two days 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.”
In the next few days, Littler plans to relax at home but will make time to watch Manchester United’s match against Bournemouth on Monday night. A dedicated Red Devils fan, Littler was recently present in the sold-out away section at Molineux when his team secured a 4-1 victory against Wolves.
Responding to inquiries about how he obtained tickets for the match, 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.”
Following his 3-0 victory over Darius Labanauskas at Ally Pally, Littler faced an unexpected encounter with a wasp during his post-match interview with Sky. Reflecting on the match, 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 special edition preview featuring Luke Littler, the youngest player to claim the title last year, defending his crown against rivals like Luke Humphries. The preview includes insights from leading contenders, interviews with prominent personalities, and a wealth of engaging content.