At just 18 years old, Luke Littler has cemented his status as a sporting phenomenon by becoming a two-time, back-to-back World Darts Champion. The Warrington-born star, known as 'The Nuke', has vindicated his bold decision to prioritise darts over formal education, leaving school at 16 after sitting his GCSEs.
The Educational Crossroads
In the summer of 2023, Luke Littler left Padgate Academy, his secondary school in Warrington. He had taken his GCSE examinations, but his academic focus was elsewhere. Littler has openly admitted that he only passed one subject: sport. "I did my sport. I got a pass in sport. That's it. Just sport," he remarked, highlighting where his true passions lay.
His commitment to darts meant frequent absences from the classroom, a point of contention with his teachers initially. "I was never really in," Littler told The Times in 2023. He explained that his success in youth and men's darts tournaments eventually led the school to understand his unique path. He never progressed to college or A-Levels, as winning his professional Tour card from the Development Tour immediately after his exams changed his trajectory entirely.
A Meteoric Rise to the Top
Littler first captured the public's imagination with a stunning run to the World Darts Championship final in his debut appearance two years ago. He proved that was no fluke by winning the prestigious title at Alexandra Palace in January 2025 and then successfully defending his crown in January 2026.
In his latest title defence, he demolished opponent Gian van Veen 7-1 to claim the £1 million top prize. This incredible achievement, alongside several other major titles, has been accomplished before his 19th birthday, an age where many of his peers would still be in full-time education.
Embracing the 'School' Chants
During his initial breakthrough, the iconic Alexandra Palace crowd famously taunted the teenager with chants of "You've got school in the morning." Littler addressed these chants with Sky Sports, finding humour in the situation. "I don't know where they've got that from, but it is funny to listen to them and just know that I've not got school in the morning," he said.
He added that the chants did not put him off his game but instead made him smile, as he focused on his darts. From the start of 2024, his life became "just darts, darts, darts," a single-minded dedication that has now yielded the ultimate rewards in his sport.
Luke Littler's story is a compelling modern narrative about talent, dedication, and an unconventional path to success. While his GCSE results were limited, his prowess on the oche has earned him world championships, millions in prize money, and a place in sporting history, all before reaching adulthood.
