Littler is a big deal

Steve Brown, chairman of the Junior Darts Corporation, told the BBC the Littler effect has seen the number of academies for children under the age of 16 double to 115 in the last year, and they can be found in places like Bulgaria and Mongolia. Brown said his corporation has more than 3,000 members, up from 1,600 12 months ago.

Plummer said the uptick in his company's sales was massive on the back of Littler's run to the world final.

"We might have sold 500 sets (of Littler-branded darts) in a year," Plummer said. "I think we had 900 in stock after his first game and they all went the next morning. And then they didn't stop. We couldn't keep up with it."

Breaking records

Top-ranked Luke Humphries beat Littler in last year's world final and said afterward: "All day, in the back of my mind, I've been thinking: 'Get this won now, because he's going to dominate world darts soon.'"

Littler has been widely tipped to challenge the record for world titles — a staggering 16 — held by the now-retired Phil "The Power" Taylor.

"If there's anybody that could do it, it's this young lad," Taylor said. "He's got the age on his side, and he's got the ability."

Littler has the mindset to achieve it, too.

"It's all about that record. He wants to be the best that's ever walked the planet," Plummer told reporters.