Luke Littler has taken the darts scene by storm, winning the most recent PDC World Championship and increasing the popularity of the sport.
The current World Champion turned 18 this week – the age at which young people are legally allowed to buy darts – and has had a significant impact on welcoming young people to the sport.
James Compton is the head of the South Manchester 501 Darts League where people from across Greater Manchester join in teams from the area.
Compton has seen first had the impact of the of the growing popularity of darts.
Just this week he had a 14-year-old boy looking to join the league, and Compton said young people are increasingly interested in the sport – with many asking for Luke Littler merchandise for Christmas.
Alife Swan, 21, joined his league at home after Luke Littler made his debut.
He said: “From then it’s been my biggest interest. I was part of the university society briefly in 2022, the society has only grown since then.”
Alife said the sport’s growth has meant the society gets more opportunities through increased funding and larger tournaments.
He said: “It makes you feel like you’re part of a very strong community. It reflects in the professionals too, who are just run-of-the mill people who lead normal lives.”
Compton also cited the COVID pandemic as a reason for the rise in popularity, as many bought darts boards when lockdown restrictions were in place and they could practice at home.
He said: “It’s going to be a challenge on whether there’s enough funding for all of the youngsters wanting to play the game.
“They’re not going into a pub and they need somewhere to play.”
One venue which has really seen young people step up to the game is Flight Club.
The bar wanted to make darts more accessible to those who haven’t played before and welcome newcomers.
Steve Moore, CEO and founder of Red Engine, the hospitality group behind Flight Club and its sister brand Electric Shuffle, said: “At Flight Club, the game is no longer relegated to a dark and dingy area at the back of a pub.
“We’ve created a vibrant, more youthful and inclusive experience that people love.”
In 2024 they welcomed almost 9 million customers into their venues, with the aim of reimagining the traditional game of darts.
He said: “We have always had a complete mix of customers, young and old, male and female – we welcome everyone to step up to the throw line.”
However, with this rise in popularity and up-market venues to access darts bringing a new home for darts, some fear this could price working class people out of the sport.
Compton said: “Even just the price of darts has gone up, what used to cost you £20 might now cost you £50.
“The games are getting more expensive too – they’re able to charge more because of the popularity.”
It is not just young people who are becoming more invested in the sport, as Compton said there has also been an increase in the number of women participating in tournaments.
Abbie Jackson-Brench, 22, is one of those people who recently bought a darts board to involve herself in the sport at home. The purchase of the darts board and the darts cost around £80.
Her interest the sport began when her family randomly put on the Darts Championships on the TV one night.
She said: “I’m from a girl heavy house and we didn’t care for it, mostly because we didn’t know the rules.
“But when my dad explained them, slowly we got silently addicted.”
Her dad then decided they could all bond over playing the sport together and bought the board.
She said: “So far we’ve played every night and honestly, we’re terrible but it’s so nice having a family activity that doesn’t revolve around screens.”
While darts is a relatively cheap game if you have a set of darts and a board at home, as the UK saw over 400 pubs close last year, there is a real problem in the death of pub culture.
Compton said: “The more pubs that close, the more dartboards go, the less places there are to play darts.
“You might get children playing at Academy level, and then when they go to want to play in a pub there might not be one near them to play.”
There are 32 teams in the South Manchester Darts League and due to the limited space 10 of those share a venue.
The sport’s growing popularity is shaping the world of darts, and both players and organisers are eager to see the impact it has on their future.
Feature image: Hope Gallagher
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