LITTLER OUTPACES MBAPPE!

LUKE LITTLER knew he had hit the bullseye when he was outpacing Kylian Mbappe trending on social media.

The 16-year-old Warrington wonderkid is now back home for Christmas after his Paddy Power World Championship Ally Pally glory. 

He admits he’s not even had a chance to check through the messages on his phone. 

But as he was eating his kebab after beating Christian Kist in the opening round, he noticed he was trending on X ahead of the French World Cup winner.

He revealed: “It has been unbelievable. When I went on Twitter, I was No. 1 trending. And then No. 2 was Kylian Mbappe! It’s crazy. Mbappe and me!

“What I did on Wednesday was unbelievable. What I have done against Andrew was OK.

“I’m glad I got the win again. I haven’t really replied to anyone yet.

“I have my Snapchat account with all my friends on it. Then there is Messenger and Instagram. There will be even more messages on there now.

“This time last Christmas, I was at home, playing on my Xbox. And I was watching the darts. Now, I’m coming back after Christmas to play in the tournament.”

Littler is dominating the darting chat on social media, a lot are amusing references to him looking much more beyond his years. There’s also the meme from Paddy Power on that famous funny work-experience scene of an old-looking 16-year-old in The Inbetweeners.

After his debut performance — in which he set a tournament high average of 106.12 — 900 of his customised Target Darts cases were bought by punters.

He added: “Hopefully I’m inspiring teenagers like myself to pick some darts up and try their best to get on the board.

“I’m think I’m really mature for my age. I just do what I do, which is practice.

“I put my headphones on before a game. When I go home, I just go on my Xbox. I’m not one of the lads who goes out on the streets. I’m not into that.

“Now I have a Tour Card, I have got to be professional on January 1.

“When you are walking up to the oche and people are asking for my autograph, it’s unbelievable. I do remember when I was about 11 years old, scribbling different signatures on bits of paper. To practise my signature.”

Paddy Power are now offering odds of 10-1 that he will be world champion on January 3.

And he will certainly be expected to beat Matt Campbell, 34, of Canada in the third round.

Littler replied: “I know I have got the game to go all the way. But I have to stay consistent all the time. I know my game is there and I can beat a lot of people on my day.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.