NEXT NUKE
Barry Hearn reveals excitement at ‘next Luke Littler’ to take darts by storm aged just TEN and called ‘promoter’s dream’
Littler has helped Sky smash ratings records since bursting onto the scene
BARRY Hearn believes he's already found next Luke Littler - and he's only ten years old.
The PDC darts kingpin revealed the unnamed rising star has been playing the sport since he was just 3.
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Littler, 17, has taken the darts world by storm over the last year.
Hearn believes the teen sensation has the potential to be "one of the all time greats."
During a recent appearance on his podcast , he also revealed there is a new talent on the horizon.
Hearn said: "I think there’s another kid coming up at the moment who I think is 10 who has been throwing since he was three.
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"This is joy to a promoter, what we all need is narrative in every sport.
"We need to be able to tell a story, set the scene. We need to involve everybody and get people talking. Luke Littler did that."
Hearn admitted that Littler "still got a long way to go" until he can be compared with the very best.
He continued: "I think he’s a sensible boy, I think he knows that.
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"He’s pacing himself and he’s going to get beat as well, he’s not going to suddenly blow everybody away."
Littler shot to stardom during last year's PDC World Championships.
Firefighter darts star
Then aged just 16, the Warrington native reached the final in his debut appearance at the tournament.
And Hearn has revealed the incredible 'Littler Effect' that has rippled through the sport ever since.
The Matchroom founder continued: "I think our best [darts ratings] on Sky was a 1.6 million peak.
"I think it was Michael van Gerwen against Gary Anderson, six, seven years ago.
Inside Littler's massive rise
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship at the beginning of the year.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age - smashing records along the way.
He has then gone on to win a host of PDC events and the Premier League title - which he claimed at the O2 Arena by beating world champion Luke Humphries in May.
He also finished his first season in the World Series as the No1 ranked player.
He has joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he's even the face of a brand new cereal.
But he is newly single after splitting from girlfriend Eloise Milburn following a 10-month relationship.
Check out all of our latest Luke Littler stories.
"This guy’s come along with 4.7 million, I’m hearing it might be close to 5.2 million. Those numbers are humongous.
"They are way up there beyond most Premier League games. In fact every Premier League game on Sky.
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"Why? Because suddenly there was a story to tell that the media got behind. That everyone was talking about and it just caught fire. It was like a forest fire.
"We had women and children saying we want to be like him. The Luke Littler effect we call it now."
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