Darts is a sport where you simply can’t afford to get too nervous – shaking often means the end of a triple.
What sets Littler apart from his rivals is the fact that he has managed to master the necessary calm at such a young age – and this in the face of an explosion of interest in the sport and himself, which was a direct result of his appearance on the big stage a year ago.
“It’s like water off a duck’s back really, the way he just takes it all in his stride,” sports psychologist and former world number one women’s darts player Dr Linda Duffy told BBC Sport.
“It’s almost like he’s not 100% sure what’s going on around him. He’s in this bubble where he only thinks about what he needs to do, which is fantastic.
“He is certainly very cool, calm and composed under pressure.
“Many people who don’t play darts don’t understand how difficult the game is. You have all this adrenaline, all these emotions swirling around you, and you have to stay as steady as a rock to throw that dart correctly at the target.”
Littler admitted he was nervous after winning 2-0 in Friday’s final, but told himself to “just relax.”
Last year, he only really let his pent-up emotions come to the surface last month after his first win over Ryan Meikle, when he broke down in tears during a postgame interview and sought hugs from his parents.
Perhaps this was one of the few times he looked more his age.
However, his lifestyle away from oche is much more similar to that of many teenagers – video games, football, fast food – and according to Duffy, this is what may also be affecting his mental strength.
“It all helps him deal with the pressure because he knows how to relax and take a moment to rest,” she said.
According to sports psychologist Martin Perry, Littler’s mental approach is based on “a very deep and absolute confidence” in his abilities.
“What it does all the time is fine-tune the feel to achieve a quality of focus and concentration where it feels like everything is happening automatically,” he said. “You play unconscious darts, score big and cash out.
“Luke’s calmness is truly invaluable as it allows him to remain in a bubble of complete concentration, which means he can regularly repeat high-scoring sequences.”
