LUKE LITTLER is an “alien and unicorn” – and only two men can beat him at the World Darts Championship, according to his practice partner and former roofer.
Littler, 18, returns to Alexandra Palace as the defending champion and now the world No1 after overtaking Luke Humphries in the order of merit.
He is the favourite to kick off 2026 by retaining his title and taking the Sid Waddell Trophy back to Warrington again.
The Nuke begins his campaign against Darius Labanauskas on Thursday.
And Haupai Puha believes Littler will go all the way – but identified the two players who could thwart the teenager’s oche charge.
Puha, 40, told SunSport: “He’s just an alien or a unicorn. He’s a generational talent.
“I practise with him and it’s just crazy.
“He is the one person in the pro tours that just doesn’t try. Everyone’s grinding away and he’s just sitting there on his phone backstage and then he does what he does.
“If he gets bored up there, he’s just gonna run riot.
“I can’t see too many people beating him. There’s probably only two or three that could potentially do it.
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“Possibly Humphries or Gerwyn Price if Gezzy turns up. But probably only those two.
“Littler will be at the top, definitely.
“Gary Anderson was always my favourite darts player until I drew him at the Players, averaged 100 and lost 6-1. You never know what Gary turns up. He’s an older version of Luke.”
Littler would face No9 seed Price in the quarter-finals then Humphries in the final, just like two years ago.
But Littler is not the only young English talent Puha thinks will go far.
The New Zealander, who quit his job as a roofer two-and-a-half years ago to get his shot at going professional in darts, added: “Beau Greaves is very good and is going to have the crowd, obviously.
“I don’t know if that helps her or not, but it definitely doesn’t help the opponent. If she gets past Daryl Gurney first round, I think she can go deep in it.
“Anyone can lose to anyone these days. Everyone’s capable of a hundred-plus average now.
“Maybe Richie Edhouse might be a shock first-round exit because he’s playing the other Kiwi, Jonny Tata!”
Puha is the world No97 and booked his spot at a third World Championship this year.
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LUK OUT!
Christmas decorations going up and the nights drawing in can only mean one thing… the return of the World Darts Championship!
Several superstars will be determined to slay defending champion Luke Littler at the Ally Pally spectacle.
And the world No1 is set to have his work cut out with an expanded 128-player field competing for a share of the huge prize fund.
But after recently completing the TV darts trophy haul, Littler is a nailed-on favourite to retain his title.
Here’s everything you need to know for this iconic competition…
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He plays Niels Zonneveld in round one and, if he can secure his first Ally Pally win, could play 2023 winner Michael Smith in the second round.
‘Hopes’ said: “Obviously I’m at the bottom of the rankings so I don’t tend to look too far into the draw.
“But I’ve been practising pretty good, I’m fairly confident especially as I beat Niels the last time we played.
“The first time I played the World Championships was Covid and there was no crowd so that was really difficult, no one to get you up and I didn’t perform too well.
“The last time I played Martin Lukeman and the crowd was crazy. I’ve been on stage a lot but the Ally Pally crowd was just crazy. I found myself turning and watching them mid-game.
“The acoustics makes it so much louder. It’s not necessarily the biggest crowd but it’s the loudest.
“I feel like sports supporters over this side of the world are a lot more passionate than New Zealand. I’ve been to rugby games and couldn’t hear my friend next to me.
“The supporters over here are second to none.”
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