That Kiss That Made Blackpool Melt: Watching Luke Littler Turn Into a Proper Romantic

By Lewis Barnett 25 July, 2025 5 mins read 176 Views

Okay, I'll admit it straight up – I was not prepared for the feels when Luke Littler leaned over and kissed Faith during his walk-on Friday night.

The kid's 18, she's 19, and there they were in front of thousands of screaming darts fans at Winter Gardens, just being... normal teenagers in love? In the middle of all that chaos and pressure, with millions watching on TV, he still took that moment. Made my cold journalist heart do weird things.

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When Your Girlfriend Becomes Your Lucky Charm

Faith Millar looked absolutely radiant standing there – every inch the proud girlfriend watching her man about to face Andrew Gilding in what turned out to be a nail-biter of a quarter-final. The camera caught that tender smooch right before Luke stepped up to the oche, and honestly? Social media lost its collective mind. Can't blame them.

That kiss must've been magic because Luke went on to beat Gilding 16-14 in what felt like the longest match of 2025 so far.

Gilding, bless him at 54, made it close – came within one leg of taking down the world champion. But then Luke hit that perfect 11-darter to seal it, and I swear you could hear the relief in his voice afterward.

The Numbers Don't Lie (But They Don't Tell the Whole Story Either)

EIGHTEEN 180s. Let me repeat that – eighteen maximum scores with a 103 average. The technical stuff was brilliant, sure, but watching Luke's face during those final legs? That's where the real drama lived.

"That last leg I just had to stay focused and get over the line," he said afterward, and you could still hear the adrenaline. "He won a few on the bounce when I was sat on 15 legs but I just had to do a professional job in the end."

Professional job. Kid's 18 and talking like a seasoned veteran.

Faith: The Beautician Who Stole a Champion's Heart

Here's what I love about this whole thing – Faith's a 19-year-old beautician who met Luke back in February. No fancy backstory, no celebrity connections. Just two teenagers who found each other and somehow make it work despite Luke's insane schedule.

They were first spotted together in March, and by last month they were jetting off to Spain with Luke's family. That's moving fast, but when you're that age and everything feels electric... I get it.

Poor Eloise Milburn – Luke's previous girlfriend who supported him through his 2023 World Championship debut. They lasted 10 months before calling it quits in July 2024. The official line was "struggling to make time for each other," which honestly sounds about right when you're dating someone whose life moves at Luke's pace.

Triple Crown Dreams and Teenage Romance

Luke's already got the Premier League title from 2024 and became the youngest world champion ever in January. Now he needs this World Matchplay to join some seriously elite company.

Only four players have ever completed the Triple Crown: Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, and Luke Humphries. Taylor – that 16-time world champion legend – is still the only one to pull it off in a single season.

The pressure must be unreal. But having Faith there, getting that kiss before stepping up? Maybe that's exactly what 'The Nuke' needs to make history.

Next up: either Gerwyn Price or Josh Rock in the semi-final. And you can bet Faith will be right there cheering him on.

Frequently Asked Questions

What weight darts should beginners use?

For beginners, I generally recommend starting with medium-weight darts between 21-24 grams. This range offers enough heft to fly straight without requiring too much force, but isn't so heavy that it becomes tiring during longer practice sessions.

Wait, so how exactly do you score in darts? I always get confused.

Dart scoring is straightforward once you get the hang of it! The standard game (501 or 301) starts with that number, and you subtract whatever you hit with each throw. The goal is to reach exactly zero, with your final dart landing in a double.

What are "flights" and "stems" and do they really matter?

Flights and stems (also called shafts) are the components that stabilize your dart during flight, and yes, they absolutely matter—though perhaps not in the way beginners often think.

Can you recommend some fun dart games for parties?

Absolutely! Darts doesn't have to be all about 501 and cricket. For parties, you want games that keep everyone involved, accommodate different skill levels, and create some friendly competition.

How far should I stand from the dartboard?

The official throwing distance is 7 feet 9¼ inches (2.37 meters) measured from the face of the board to the oche (throwing line). In American darts, this distance is sometimes 8 feet, so check local rules if you're playing in the States.

My darts keep bouncing out of the board. What am I doing wrong?

Bounce-outs are incredibly frustrating, but they're usually caused by one of a few common issues. First, check your dartboard—if it's old and dried out, even the best throws will struggle to stick. Quality sisal boards should last years, but cheaper paper-wound boards harden quickly. If you can press your thumbnail into the board and it doesn't leave a small indent, it's too hard.

Statistics

A professional dart weighs between 18-50 grams, with most players preferring 21-24 gram darts.
The World Darts Championship prize fund exceeded £2.5 million in 2023, with the champion receiving £500,000.
A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."
The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship has been held since 1994, with Phil Taylor winning a record 14 titles.
The highest possible score with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s.
Research shows that top professional dart players achieve accuracy rates of over 80% when aiming at treble 20.
The standard height from the floor to the bullseye on a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters).

External Links

How To

Setting Up Your Practice Space

The official height for a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches from the floor to the bullseye. The throwing line (oche) should be 7 feet 9¼ inches from the face of the board. I used to have mine hung too low and wondered why my game never improved at the pub! Measuring tape is your friend here.