ARE superheroes born or made? In the case of Luke Littler, it’s a bit of both.
This is an utterly fearless, 16-year-old boy who has been playing darts since he was in Pampers.
In the past few weeks we’ve seen him grow into a man with unflappable, wristy superpowers.
He’s also made the sport attractive to a new crowd — young and old, male and female.
Last night Oompa-Loompa and Willy Wonka dart fans raised jugs of ales alongside two Barbies in Alexandra Palace, North London. Well, in the pub next door.
A chicken bought shots of sambuca for three bearded nuns, who in turn handed pints to Little Bo Peep and Elvis Presley.
Never have I resented sobriety more.
Dry January isn’t ideal for a sport which has traditionally seen competitors necking pints between nailing 180s.
But hey, if Luke, an athlete, can be sober on stage in front of 3,000 well-refreshed people — with half a million quid at stake — I can quietly sup a pint of Diet Coke next to sailors and anthropomorphic farmyard animals.
Luke Littler is an Everyman. Well, Boy.
He’s not adorned with the latest tech, watches and monitors measuring heartbeats or body-fat.
This, after all, is a kid who ate matchday meals of ham and cheese omelette, pizza and kebab, washed down with a Fanta. His is a body made not for speed, rather eye-of-the-tiger accuracy.
Luke’s opponent, Luke Humphries, barely got a look-in last night.
“Walking in a Littler Wonderland” echoed around the streets of Ally Pally in great, tone-deaf baritones.
“Go on, The Nuke” reverberated through The Starting Gate, the heaving pub across the road.
But this wasn’t just a night for the lads.
Warrington-born Luke has captured the imagination of women, too.
“He’s adorable,” said Stephanie, 37, from nearby Highbury.
“I just want to cuddle him. My son, who is eight, idolises him and is begging me for darts lessons.
“Luke is a modern-day superhero.”
A hero in a Lycra T-shirt with teen stubble.
