{"id":415,"date":"2026-03-31T12:29:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T12:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=415"},"modified":"2026-03-31T12:29:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T12:29:07","slug":"luke-littler-set-to-lose-over-half-of-1m-prize-but-can-boost-bank-balance-immediately","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=415","title":{"rendered":"Luke Littler set to lose over half of \u00a31m prize but can boost bank balance immediately"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_cc3189\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Luke Littler can boost his 2026 earnings once again<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">14:22, 05 Jan 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 14:22, 05 Jan 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36496099\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Luke Littler of England reacts against Ryan Searle of England (not pictured) during their semi-final match at Alexandra Palace\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36496099.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_Littler-2.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36496099.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/2_Littler-2.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36496099.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/2_Littler-2.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36496099.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_Littler-2.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Luke Littler has an opportunity to bolster his bank balance later this month\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Luke Littler has an opportunity to bolster his bank balance later this month<cite aria-label=\"Image: (Photo by Warren Little\/Getty Images)\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: (Photo by Warren Little\/Getty Images))<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Luke Littler has the opportunity to reclaim some of the winnings he&#8217;s set to lose of his \u00a31million prize for winning the PDC World Darts Championship. The 18-year-old became the first man since Gary Anderson to win back-to-back world titles after defeating Gian van Veen at Alexandra Palace on Saturday night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Littler bested the Dutchman 7-1 in yet another dominating performance during the tournament, which has seen Littler reach the final for three consecutive years. Already a serial record-breaker in darts, the teenager also became the first player to capture the \u00a31m prize on offer with his victory.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The mammoth prize was a \u00a3500,000 increase on last year&#8217;s prize, which Littler also claimed, but due to UK tax laws, the world champion will lose almost half of his entire payout. His winnings will be taxed at the additional rate (45 per cent) for income tax, likely leaving him with a bill of up to \u00a3450,000.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">National Insurance contributions will be added, leaving Littler with almost a tax bill of \u00a3470,000 thanks to his second world championship win. However, a swift opportunity to bank more cash awaits Littler, who is set to compete in the Bahrain Darts Masters, which starts on January 15.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Nuke won the event in 2024 after defeating Michael van Gerwen 8-5 in the final, which secured him a \u00a330,000 victory<!-- -->. The Bahrain Masters marked Littler&#8217;s World Series debut and now will return two years later as a 10-time PDC major title winner.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_13e0b4\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Luke Littler and girlfriend footage behind the scenes says everything<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_13e0b4\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Luke Littler&#8217;s girlfriend shows true colours with seven-word message after darts star wins \u00a31m<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking to talkSPORT, Littler laid out his plans for January: &#8220;We fly out to Bahrain next Sunday, so obviously we&#8217;ll have five, six days off and then we&#8217;re back on the road, back on a flight. I want to go and try and win that title in Bahrain once again.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Should Littler claim the title for a second time in his career, it&#8217;ll leave him with just a handful of days to rest and recharge before the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters. The first event of its kind, it begins on January 19 in Riyadh, and the world champion revealed his motivation ahead of the tournament.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-31977862\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"31977862\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Luke Littler after defeating Michael van Gerwen (not pictured) in the final of the Bahrain Darts Masters 2024 at Bahrain International Circuit. Issue date: Friday January 19, 2024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article31977862.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/5_Bahrain-Darts-Masters-2024-handout-photojpgler.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article31977862.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/5_Bahrain-Darts-Masters-2024-handout-photojpgler.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article31977862.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/5_Bahrain-Darts-Masters-2024-handout-photojpgler.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article31977862.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/5_Bahrain-Darts-Masters-2024-handout-photojpgler.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The 18-year-old won the Bahrain Darts Masters in 2024\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The 18-year-old won the Bahrain Darts Masters in 2024<cite aria-label=\"Image: PA\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: PA)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He said: &#8220;I obviously want to set a marker and try and win the first Saudi Arabian World Series. After Saudi Arabia, me, mum dad and Faith, we&#8217;re going over to Dubai for three, four nights and chill out.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The prize money for World Series events last year was set at \u00a330,000, although the winnings for the 2026 tournaments have yet to be confirmed. Regarded as the man to potentially equal or surpass Phil Taylor&#8217;s historic record of 16 world titles, Littler admitted after Saturday&#8217;s heroics that he plans to &#8220;dominate&#8221; the sport.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s what dreams are made of,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Nothing will ever beat a first world title &#8211; for anyone, in any sport, because that&#8217;s the first time you&#8217;ve done it. But this was all about retaining it. To go back-to-back feels amazing. I want to dominate everything, I want to try to win everything.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. 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