Luke Littler has stated that he will not be attending the upcoming BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, despite being nominated. Littler expressed his belief that Lando Norris is likely to win the prestigious award. At 18 years old, Littler is among the six contenders, including Rory McIlroy, Chloe Kelly, Hannah Hampton, and Ellie Kildunne. Although he was previously nominated and missed out on the award last year, losing to Keely Hodgkinson, Littler remains focused on his upcoming match with either Mario Vandenbogaerde or David Davies, scheduled two days after the ceremony on December 18.
Regarding the awards ceremony, Littler mentioned, “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.”
Littler’s immediate plans involve relaxing at home, with a plan to watch Manchester United’s game against Bournemouth on Monday night. The avid Red Devils supporter recently attended the sold-out away game at Molineux, where Manchester United triumphed against Wolves 4-1, causing a buzz on social media.
Responding to queries about how he obtained tickets for the game, 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.”
After securing a 3-0 victory over Darius Labanauskas at Ally Pally, Littler reflected on the match, stating, “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 thrilling competition with defending champion Luke Littler set to face off against competitors like Luke Humphries. The championship promises exciting action and intense rivalries, drawing attention from darts enthusiasts worldwide.