Luke Littler has announced his decision not to attend the upcoming BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards despite being a nominee for the prestigious accolade. He has voiced his support for Lando Norris to clinch the top prize.
Dubbed as ‘The Nuke’, the 18-year-old is among the six finalists vying for the award, including contenders such as Rory McIlroy, Chloe Kelly, Hannah Hampton, and Ellie Kildunne. Although this is his second consecutive nomination after falling short to Keely Hodgkinson last year, Littler is focusing on his upcoming match with either Mario Vandenbogaerde or David Davies, scheduled just two days after the awards 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.”
For the next few days, Littler plans to relax at home, with an exception to attend Manchester United’s match against Bournemouth on Monday night. A devoted Red Devils fan, he recently attended the sold-out away game at Molineux, witnessing a 4-1 victory for his team.
Responding to queries about his ticket acquisition 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.”
Following a successful 3-0 victory over Darius Labanauskas at Ally Pally, Littler faced an unexpected interruption from a wasp during his post-match interview with Sky. Reflecting on his performance, he expressed his contentment with the win and highlighted the significance of settling nerves in the game.
As the World Darts Championship approaches, Littler prepares to defend his title as the youngest player to lift the trophy. The event promises an exciting showdown between Littler and rival Luke Humphries at the packed Ally Pally venue.
Get ready for the festive season with an exclusive preview of the World Darts Championship featuring insights from top contenders, interviews with key personalities, and a comprehensive look at the tournament’s participants. Dive into the world of darts with this special edition.