Dan Stapleton, an amateur darts player from North Wales, found himself facing the rising star Luke Littler in a local tournament in Chester in 2023. Despite Luke’s young age of 16 at the time, he was already gaining attention months before his debut at the PDC World Championship.
Stapleton recalled the encounter, mentioning their previous interaction at a tournament and how he felt seeing Luke as his opponent. Despite being kept apart in the group stages, the draw pitted them against each other in the round of 16, much to Stapleton’s surprise and excitement.
Luke, known for his serious approach to all competitions, showcased his skill by defeating Stapleton with an impressive average of 88.41. Stapleton acknowledged Luke’s dominance and talent, emphasizing the high level of play displayed during their match.
Reflecting on the game, Stapleton praised Luke’s exceptional performance and expressed his belief in Luke’s future success, comparing him to other renowned darts champions. Despite the loss, Stapleton had always anticipated Luke’s success, even marveling at his achievement of winning a world title at such a young age.