ST HELENS Darts Academy graduate Luke Littler has been THE name on the lips of so many people this past three weeks – even those with not even a passing interest in the sport of darts.

And it is even more so now after playing his part in an utterly compelling tussle at the Alexandra Palace cauldron – with the spellbinding spectacle watched by a record TV audience.

Although it eventually slipped away through his fingers with a 7-4 defeat to Luke Humphries he can hold his head high for a mature, gutsy and classy display.

It was a game that ebbed and flowed with Littler showing his nerve to hang in after a blistering start by Humphries in taking the first set and one leg away from going two down.

Then came the response and Littler found his mojo, and it was darts with a swagger as he took out a ridiculous 142 on his way to clawing his way back to level the match at 1-1.

It was nip and tuck an Littler turned the game on his head, with the normally unflappable and methodical Humphries crumpling in the face of the prodigy’s onslaught.

The Warringtonian was looking like the dominant force that had swept away the likes of former champions Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross en route to the final.

Littler was in the driving seat, playing with a swagger at 4-2, but with an incredible display of darts Humphries showed the staying power and resilience that has propelled him to the World number one with his displays this past five months.

Level at 4-4, Humphries kept knocking off the legs – but Littler retained that fight in his belly and pulled out some ridiculously clinical finishes landing the big fish of 170 to kick of the 10th set.

But it was not to be, but even in the face of a dominant Humphries at the end the towel was never thrown in by the 16-year-old who has really come of age this last three weeks and won over so many followers for himself, the town, region and the sport of darts.

It was nevertheless a remarkable achievement for the World Championship debutant who, with three more tournaments till he is 20, he is a player with the world at his feet.