Luke Littler has the chance to recoup some of the prize money he is set to lose from his £1 million award for winning the PDC World Darts Championship. The 18-year-old made history by becoming the first player since Gary Anderson to secure consecutive world titles by defeating Gian van Veen at Alexandra Palace.
In an impressive performance, Littler defeated the Dutchman 7-1, continuing his dominance throughout the tournament and securing a place in the final for the third consecutive year. Apart from his remarkable darts achievements, the young player also clinched the £1 million prize, making him the first player to do so.
Despite the substantial increase in the prize money compared to the previous year, Littler will lose a significant portion of his winnings due to UK tax regulations. The world champion is expected to lose almost half of his earnings to income tax at a rate of 45%, potentially leaving him with a tax bill of around £450,000.
Further National Insurance contributions will push Littler’s total tax payment to approximately £470,000 following his second world championship triumph. However, he has the opportunity to increase his earnings by participating in the upcoming Bahrain Darts Masters starting on January 15.
Having previously won the event in 2024 by defeating Michael van Gerwen in the final, Littler secured a £30,000 prize. Returning to the Bahrain Masters two years later as a 10-time PDC major title holder, Littler expressed his determination to win the title once more.
Looking ahead to his schedule for January, Littler mentioned his upcoming participation in the Bahrain Darts Masters and his ambition to win the title. Subsequently, he plans to compete in the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters starting on January 19 in Riyadh, aiming to make his mark in the inaugural event.
With the prize money for the 2026 tournaments yet to be confirmed, Littler is considered a potential contender to match or surpass Phil Taylor’s record of 16 world titles. After his recent success, Littler emphasized his ambition to dominate the sport and continue winning.
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