PHIL TAYLOR would not bet against Luke Littler becoming the youngest world darts champion in history.

And the Power reckons Littler’s simple pre-match routines at tournaments are “doing the other players’ heads in” as they struggle to cope with the teenager on the oche.

Rex

Rex

Luke Littler won the Grand Slam of Darts last weekend[/caption]

Littler, 17, is the tournament favourite for the PDC World Darts Championship, which starts next month at Ally Pally.

Ten title wins in 2024 – the latest was last weekend’s Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton – has seen him rise up to fifth spot in the world rankings.

Should he continue this excellent form, there is a great chance he will receive the Sid Waddell Trophy come the evening of January 3.

And if he did that, he would eclipse the feat of Dutch prodigy Jelle Klaasen, who became Lakeside champion aged 21 years old in January 2006 when he beat Raymond van Barneveld 7–5 in the final.

Taylor, 64, has a record 16 world titles to his name – the first, in the BDO, was achieved in 1990 – and he hopes that mark remains unmatched over the coming decades as Littler inevitably gets better.

The former world No.1 said: “I’ll tell you what though, if there’s anybody that could do it, it’s this young lad now.

“He has got the age on his side and the ability – you never know. You never know with him.

“I have seen players come and go over the years. It’s a matter of being dedicated.

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“Money isn’t his motivation believe it or not. He isn’t really that bothered.

“I was with him a couple of weeks ago. He just plays on his game. He is a typical teenager.

“He isn’t motivated by prize money. It’s great, don’t get me wrong.

“But he’s more interested in looking after his mother and father than winning tournaments.

“It’s lovely to see. I have seen so many players where they start earning money and that ruins their career.

“But this lad, he just sits there, he’s quiet as a mouse. He’s lovely company to be with.

“He doesn’t drink. He just sits there, he has a game. He’s doing the other players’ heads in!

“They told me. They said, he just sits there, he doesn’t do anything. He hardly practises. He must practise obviously because he’s that good. But by ’eck, what a player.”

The draw for the 2024/25 World Championship takes place on Monday afternoon in central London, the day after the conclusion to the Players Championship Finals at Butlin’s Minehead.

Luke Humphries – who beat Littler 7-4 in the 2024 final – is the defending champion and will remain as world No.1 whatever happens over the Christmas period.

Asked by talkSPORT’s Jeff Stelling if Littler will win the Worlds, Taylor responded: “I wouldn’t bet against him.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t bet against him. Definitely have him as an each-way bet.”

GARDAI have released snaps of teenagers and grown adults who they want to speak to regarding their probe into the Dublin riots last year.

Some 66 businesses and premises were subject to damage and 500 business premises in the North and South city centre were canvassed during the public order incident on November 23 last year.

An Garda Siochana

An Garda Siochana

Today, Gardai published 99 images of ‘persons of interest’ who they are looking to identify and speak to over the Dublin riots.

The investigation team hopes to progress the probe by interviewing each to rule them “in or out”.

The people pictured have yet to be identified by Gardai.

It is the first time the gardai have used their own website and social media to progress an investigation. 

Detectives have reviewed 17,000 hours of CCTV so far which they continue to analyse, by the investigation team which involves over 50 garda members.

Photos depict people, some of whom look like teenagers.

The montage includes some individuals holding boxes of Asics shoes in what appears to be a storeroom of a business.

Another individual is clutching up to four boxes of the branded items, with shoes sprawled all across the floor of storeroom in the snaps.

One more person is seen holding multiple pairs of runners not in the boxes whilst some persons of interest are holding Footlocker bags on CCTV footage obtained obtained during the probe.

Some of the people Gardai are hoping to speak to were holding bundles of clothes in the CCTV images whilst others were seen in stills as they passed through the businesses in Dublin city centre.

Another CCTV still shows a hooded man wearing a mask and standing in front of large vehicle blaze.

Some pictures simply capture people who are standing on the street, many with their faces clearly visible.

Gardai now are asking the public to help in identifying the 99 from CCTV footage obtained obtained during the investigation.

Chief Superintendent Patrick McMenamin also called on those who recognised themselves in the snaps to make contact with them.

garda.ie

An Garda Siochana

Any member of the public can provide information or make a nomination by clicking on the specific image from the gallery on the garda website without submitting their own names or email addresses.

When the images were first released, the An Garda Siochana website went down for a short time.

A Garda spokesperson confirmed online: “Garda.ie is currently experiencing a high volume of traffic.

garda.ie

garda.ie

“Visitors may experience delays in accessing the site.”

During the night of the Dublin riots, there was disorder, arson and damage to property.

There were 28 vehicles targeted, including the torching of a Luas tram, three Dublin Buses destroyed by fire while 66 premises and businesses were also affected.

Gardai say 13 of its members were injured on the night. So far, there have been 57 arrests with 53 before the courts charged in relation to the chaos.

garda.ie

An Garda Siochana

The investigation team at Store Street Garda Station can be contacted by telephone at 01-6668000 or by email at store.street.public@garda,ie.

Any member of the public can also provide confidential information to the Garda Investigation team by contacting the Garda Confidential Phone number 1800 666 111.

garda press office handout

garda press office handout

An Garda Siochana

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