State of the dart — how a boozy hobby became a global phenomenon

The hero of the story is a 17-year-old boy. Raised in Warrington, north-west England, he likes kebabs, video games and Manchester United Football Club. He’s a normal teenager, cheeky as they often are. But, above all, he knows how to play darts.

The world came to know Luke Littler at the end of 2023. A string of surprise wins allowed him to qualify for the World Darts Championship, the most prestigious event in the sport’s calendar. Viewers watched intently as Littler, then 16 but…