Littler will be aiming to go one better than his PDC World Championship debut last year when he was beaten in the final by Luke Humphries

An unknown a year ago, the 17-year-old is making millions, taking darts into the mainstream and Britain’s most-searched athlete on Google.

Luke Humphries goes to the World Darts Championship as the defending champion and world number one, but he is not the bookmakers’ favourite to lift the trophy, with that role filled by Luke Littler.

Luke Littler has admitted he's still haunted by his defeat to Luke Humphries in the final of the World Darts Championship earlier this year. Few had heard of the teenager 12 months ago when he first appeared at the competition,