Luke Littler became the youngest world champion in darts history on Friday when the 17-year-old Englishman lived up to his billing as Britain’s latest sporting superstar. Littler beat three-time champion Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final at a boisterous Alexandra Palace in London.

The dream final has its fairy-tale ending. Luke Littler, the most famous 17-year-old in Britain, is also now the youngest world champion in the history of darts. That he should achieve this feat by fully seven years tells you everything about a jaw-dropping achievement that rates with any of the most seismic teenage accomplishments in sport.