It was once 'Project Kylian Mbappe' but is it now 'Project Luke Littler' after Bahrain Masters?

Sporting world by storm

Since the start of December, the sporting headlines have been filled with one person only, 16-year-old darting sensation Luke 'The Nuke' Littler.

Beating legend

The 16-year-old prodigy blitzed his way to the Darts World Championship final, seeing off darts legend Raymond Van Barneveld and beating Rob Cross in the semi-final to set up a showdown with world number one Luke Humphries.

Just missing out

Unfortunately for Littler, the teenager missed out on becoming the youngest world champion ever, losing 7-4 to Humphries, who won his fourth major in a row.

Going one better

Despite his loss to Humphries in the World Championship final, 'The Nuke' went one better in the Bahrain Masters, beating Michael Van Gerwen in the final.

Picture – YouTube @Professional Darts Corporation

Beating the best again

Like his world championship run, Littler dismantled some of the games best on his way to the Bahrain final, beating former world champion Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall.

Picture – YouTube @Professional Darts Corporation

Making six figures

Littler secured £200,000 in the final of the World Championships and secured £20,000 after beating three-time world champion Van Gerwen in the Bahrain Masters final.

'Project Luke Littler'

The unbelievable amount of money he has made on the world stage as a darts player has got parents joking around the country about 'Project Luke Littler.'

'I'm staying in the pub'

According to dailymail.co.uk, one father said: "Stop project Mbappe that's too much effort. I'm staying in the pub and doing project Luke Littler."

'Sounds like a good time'

A second father said: "Project Luke Littler sounds like an excuse to just get drunk in a pub all day and watch your son play darts. Sounds like a good time to me."

Picture – Instagram @Lukethenukelittler

Dedicated

Despite the laughing and joking, Littler has been dedicated to his craft since he was still in nappies, having played on a magnetic board at 18 months old.

Picture – X @LuketheNuke180

'A video on YouTube'

According to news.sky.com, the teenage sensation said: "There's a video on YouTube of me when I was 18 months in a nappy listening to Raymond van Barneveld's music, listening to Phil Taylor's music, doing their celebrations."

Focusing on darts

His dad, a former taxi driver called Anthony Buckley, forced him to give up on 'Project Mbappe' at nine and told him to focus on darts.

Picture – Instagram @Lukethenukelittler

'Hang your boots up'

According to thetimes.co.uk, Buckley said: "Hang your boots up. Concentrate on darts. You can still play football here and there."

‘I thought he could make it at darts’

"But if there's a darts comp on at the weekends, go to darts first. Make that your priority because I thought he could make it at darts - and he has done."

Picture – X @LuketheNuke180

One of the greatest stories

His rise to the top of darts at such a young age is one of the greatest teenage sports stories this year. Is it the most incredible achievement by a teenager in sports history?

Compared to the greats

Littler has been compared to Pele winning the World Cup at 17, Boris Becker winning Wimbledon aged 17, and Ronnie O'Sullivan winning his first-ranking snooker title at 17.

Dominate for years to come

Whatever happens in the future, it looks almost guaranteed that Luke Littler will dominate the darting landscape for years to come. Will he reach Phil Taylor's record of 16 world titles?