A mural in Warrington honouring two-time world darts champion Luke Littler left his grandmother shocked after she spotted it while on a local bus.
Littler, 19, watched on Thursday as the mural, placed on the side of Golden Square Shopping Centre, was unveiled.
But on Wednesday, Littler’s grandmother was on a bus that passed the mural as it was being prepared for the ceremony. She got off to look at it before contacting other members of the family.
“I think my nan was on the bus yesterday,” said Littler, speaking to Sport’s Nesta McGregor. “She actually came down here, she got off the bus and spoke to the guys that were doing it. Then, she phoned my dad and that’s how I found out.
“She was here before us. Unbelievable. I think that was always going to happen really.
“Very happy, family’s happy, we’re happy. I was just never going to turn it down really.
“It’s a great honour. It’s good to see so many people here as well. I was expecting a fair few people, but it’s a ‘pinch me’ moment. I can’t believe his happened.”
The mural unveiling happened days after Littler won the 2026 World Matchplay – his 11th PDC major title. Only Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen have more.
While Littler could yet end 2026 by winning every major title in a calendar year, Van Gerwen has dropped from fourth to seventh in the PDC’s Order of Merit in recent days.
It is the first time he has been outside the world’s top four since 2013 – but Littler hopes the Dutchman can rediscover his form to compete with him, as well as Luke Humphries and Gian van Veen, the only three players in the world to have earned more than £1m in prize money in the past two years.
“We’re seeing Van Gerwen at the minute who is not playing at his best game – he’s down to seventh in the world now is Michael,” Littler added.
“Personally, I want Michael to get back to his best. He needs to get back to his best to compete with us.”