Luke Littler has announced his decision to skip the upcoming BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony despite being nominated for the top honor. Littler, also known as ‘The Nuke,’ believes that Lando Norris is the frontrunner to clinch the prestigious accolade. At 18 years old, Littler is among the six contenders for the award, which includes notable figures like Rory McIlroy, Chloe Kelly, Hannah Hampton, and Ellie Kildunne. Although he had been nominated last year as well, he lost to Keely Hodgkinson, the Olympic gold medalist.
While Littler is in the running for the award this year following an outstanding performance, he emphasized that his main focus remains on his upcoming match with either Mario Vandenbogaerde or David Davies. This match is scheduled just two days after the awards ceremony on December 18. When asked about the event, Littler stated, “No, I’m not attending. I believe the top three favorites will be present, and my prediction is that Lando will emerge victorious.”
Reflecting on his achievements this year, Littler pondered on the possibility of winning the award had he secured victories in the four major events he missed. Nevertheless, he extended his well wishes to all the nominees. As for his immediate plans, Littler intends to relax at home, with a plan to watch Manchester United play against Bournemouth on Monday night.
Littler, a devoted Manchester United fan, recently attended the team’s game against Wolves, which ended in a resounding 4-1 victory. Responding to queries about how he obtained tickets for the match, he clarified that Adidas had provided him with the tickets. He explained that Adidas, as the kit manufacturer, distributes tickets annually for home and away games, and he was fortunate to receive three tickets for the Wolves away game.
Having secured a 3-0 victory over Darius Labanauskas at Ally Pally, Littler shared his satisfaction with the win. He acknowledged the nerves but highlighted the importance of winning the initial sets to build confidence. Looking ahead, Littler is gearing up to defend his World Darts Championship title at Ally Pally, where he will face stiff competition, including Luke Humphries.
To delve deeper into the upcoming World Darts Championship, a special edition preview has been released featuring insights from Luke Littler and his rivals. The edition includes interviews with darts experts like Wayne Mardle, Emma Paton, John Part, and Polly James, along with profiles of the top contenders and lesser-known players in the tournament. Fans can access the full content by purchasing the special edition through the provided link.