Luke Littler into TOP 20 of PDC Order of Merit for first time as darts prodigy, 17, rakes in £364,500

LUKE LITTLER is on cloud nine for yet another incredible reason.

In the week he clinched his ninth PDC title, the Warrington whizkid has surged into the PDC Order of Merit top 20 after just nine months.

RexLuke Littler has stormed into the top 20[/caption]

Luke the Nuke, 17, has scooped £364,500 on the tour – and his latest achievement is even more impressive than it might sound.

That’s because the earnings list is based over two years, yet he’s only been at this level since reaching the World Championship final aged 16 in January.

Luke Humphries denied him the ultimate prize then.

And it’s also the 29-year-old who sits well clear in the PDC top 20 on £1.654million, with Michael Smith second on £1.06m.

However, in total, Littler has won a similar sum to World No 1 Humphries.

Jackpots like the £275k for his Premier League glory don’t count in the PDC list.

Nor does the £40k Littler won each individual night on his way to the Prem play-offs – let alone £80k for winning the World Series.

However, he’s insisted money is not a main motivator amidst one of the most astonishing debut years ever seen in the sport.

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If it were, he might not have withdrawn from this weekend’s Hungarian Darts Trophy at the eleventh hour.   

Mischievous fans wondered if his decision had anything to do with his love of computer games… and the release of EA FC 25.

Littler was just as cheeky himself – retorting to such speculation on SportsBible Instagram with “What a coincidence” and a tongue-out emoji.

Fans loved that, with replies like “This is an elite response” and “He’s just 17, let the man enjoy.”

In truth, Littler might just need a break ahead of a hectic winter schedule – and, surely, more history-making stats.

He’s well past 500 maximums in 2024 – as he homes in on the record haul of 180s for any one year, which is 714 by “Bully Boy” Smith.

Inside Littler’s massive rise

LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship at the beginning of the year.

The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age – smashing records along the way.

He has then gone on to win a host of PDC events and the Premier League title – which he claimed at the O2 Arena by beating world champion Luke Humphries in May.

He also finished his first season in the World Series as the No1 ranked player.

He has joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.

And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.

The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.

He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.

And he’s even the face of a brand new cereal.

But he is newly single after splitting from girlfriend Eloise Milburn following a 10-month relationship.

Check out all of our latest Luke Littler stories.