Luke Littler fever has gripped the nation in the days leading up to this year’s World Darts Championships with twice as many tickets sold for this year’s event as the last edition.

Excitement has been mounding ever since the then 16-year-old narrowly missed out on a historic debut title this January, and has reached a frenzy on the eve of the tournament, which starts at Alexandra Palace in London on Sunday.

The darting sensation burst onto the scene last year as he surged to the final of the Worlds only to lose 7-4 to compatriot Luke Humphries.

‘The Nuke’, from Warrington, has put that setback behind him, winning tournaments in Bahrain, Austria, Belgium and Poland to earn £1million in prize money.

He scooped up the PDC Premier League title earlier this year before lifting the Grand Slam and World Series of Darts Finals trophies as he continues to impress on the oche.

And ahead of darts’ flagship event, fans are lining up in their droves on online ticket sites in the hope of securing their seat at Ally Pally, according to ticket marketplace viagogo.

Luke Littler burst onto the scene last year as he surged to the final of the World Championship

His popularity has caused an immense surge in ticket sales ahead of this year’s competition 

Twice as many fans have purchased tickets for the championships as at this time last year 

Almost twice as many tickets (95 per cent) have been sold as at this time last year with much of it fuelled by supporters hoping to catch a glimpse of the Nuke, now 17, on stage.

The session on December 21 featuring Littler’s second-round match – his first of the tournament due to a bye – has been hit by a remarkable surge in demand and is outselling the equivalent slot last year more than three times over (a 224 per cent increase).

The darting sensation is set to face either Ryan Meikle or ‘Queen of the Palace’ Fallon Sherrock in that match.

The Nuke effect looks set to continue throughout the competition with 175 per cent more tickets sold for the final and a whopping 230 per cent increase in semi-final purchases.

And fans are flocking from all around the world to see the cream of the darts crop, including Littler, reigning champion Luke Humphries and three-time winner Michael van Gerwen, strut their stuff with purchasers registered from 32 countries compared with last year’s 26.

It all means that darts is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in the country. In fact, it now lies behind only football in the ticket-selling stakes, leap-frogging F1, boxing and the NFL over the last 12 months.

Much of this is down to teenage tungsten star Littler with the Nuke being Googled more than any other sports star in the UK in 2024.

The 17-year-old also was the third-most searched-for person of the year, only losing out to Kate Middleton and Donald Trump.

Littler (pictured, at TV show Game of Throws premiere) is the game’s biggest draw

He will be vying with the likes of Luke Humphries, who won the World Players Championships

Littler mania has been spotted by commercial sponsors with the Englishman signing a dream deal with Xbox this week as his video game love turned into reality ahead of the biggest event of the year.

The deal will not only provide Littler with the backing of one of the world’s most recognised brands, but will also see fans benefit from the chance to win exclusive prizes. 

Every 180 maximum, nine dart finish, or victory that Littler records at the Ally Pally will see Xbox dish out various video game prizes to fans throughout the UK.

Littler will also have his iconic purple and yellow match shirt emblazoned with the logos of both Xbox and Score More with Xbox throughout the competition.

Hailing his new partnership, Littler said: ‘I’m looking forward to partnering with Xbox and bringing two of my biggest passions together – darts and gaming.

‘I hope I can provide fans with as many rewards as possible through my performances at the PDC World Darts Championship and help them score more with Xbox.’