Luke Littler receives surprise message from Bayern Munich star Lennart Karl en route to World Darts Championship
In the aftermath of claiming a second consecutive World Darts Championship title, Luke Littler revealed that he’d received a motivation boost from an unlikely source: Bayern Munich starlet Lennart Karl.
Speaking to Sport1 after being awarded the trophy, Littler made the surprising admission that Karl had messaged him via Instagram in the earlier stages of the tournament to tell the 18-year-old darts sensation to “keep it up”, and that he had now started following the Bayern No.42.
The Englishman certainly did just that, continuing in the same vein and reclaiming the darts crown with a commanding performance against Dutchman Gian van Veen (7–1) in a sold-out Alexandra Palace in London.
Defending a title and being crowned world champion are goals that Karl, who is one year Littler’s junior, also has firmly in mind with Bayern topping the Bundesliga and the FIFA World Cup to be held this summer.
Watch: Lennart Karl lighting up the game
Before those goals can be achieved, however, the Bayern starlet still has a whole half-season yet to play, with he and his teammates having resumed full team training on 3 December.
Nevertheless, if it were up to Littler – a passionate Manchester United fan – Karl would be likewise shining in the north-west of England. On whether he’d like to see Karl at United, Littler joked: “If he wants to, he can help us,” before adding with a laugh that he should “bring Harry Kane along too!”
Bayern are due to return to action on 11 January when they welcome Wolfsburg to the Allianz Arena for Matchday 16.
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