Dan Stapleton, an amateur darts player from North Wales, found himself facing off against the rising star Luke Littler at a local tournament in Chester in 2023. Littler, just 16 at the time, was already gaining attention ahead of his upcoming debut at the prestigious PDC World Championship.
Stapleton recalled their encounter at a Riley’s club in Chester, where they both arrived at the same time for their match. Despite previously practicing at a tournament together, Stapleton had only known Littler by name and was surprised to be drawn against him in the round of 16.
Littler, who has since become a well-known figure in the darts world, showcased his competitive spirit by delivering an impressive performance against Stapleton. With an average score of 88.41, Littler secured a 3-0 victory, displaying his talent even in smaller tournaments.
Stapleton acknowledged Littler’s exceptional skills and predicted his future success, comparing him to past world champions like Michael van Gerwen and Jelle Klaasen. Despite the loss, Stapleton admired Littler’s remarkable talent and expressed confidence in his potential to achieve greatness in the sport.