A 12-year-old darts prodigy has been labelled the next Luke Littler by fans, after a stunning 145 checkout in front of some huge stars.
Jayden Walker stole the limelight at the MODUS Super Series’ Influencer Darts Showdown where he was paired with Manchester United content creator Morgan Burtwistle, known as Angryginge, and the two took the competition by storm. The Queen of the Palace Fallon Sherrock and her doubles partner, YouTuber and podcast host JaackMaatem, were defeated in the first round – however it was far from plain sailing. With Walker and Burtwistle trailing by two legs to one and needing a 145 checkout to stay alive, the 12-year-old stepped up to deliver the goods – nailing the treble 20, treble 15 and double 20 to win the leg, leaving fans in disbelief.
After breezing beyond George Scaife and Adam Lipscombe to set up a final against 2020 PDC Premier League champion and three-time BDO world champ Glen Durrant, paired with Charlie Murphy, the duo went on to lift the trophy – with Walker hitting a 180 on his way to success. Earning praise from stars including 17-year-old Littler, who took the darts world by storm as he made the final of last year’s World Championships at Alexandra Palace.
Who is Jayden Walker?
From Christchurch in Dorset on the English south coast, 12-year-old Jayden was already making a name for himself in the darts world prior to the Super Series, making his professional debut when he was just 11 against 2024 PDC World Darts Championship semi-finalist, Scott Williams, for Dorset County in April of this year.
He comes from a darts family, with both his mum, Jamie Lee, and gran Wendy county level players. His proud mother says that he idolises Luke Littler and aims to follow in his footsteps, previously telling the Daily Echo: “He has enjoyed watching Luke Littler because I think its given younger people the opportunity to play. I think the talent is more looked at as opposed to the age.
“Around our local area, everyone is like ‘have you seen that eleven-year-old play darts?’ Both me and my mum played this weekend so we had three generations playing in the same team which was nice but I don’t think the team look at him as an eleven-year-old, they just see him as a darts player.”
What have others said about him?
Posting on Instagram, Littler simply said: “This kid is gonna be special.” The youngster already showed his potential with victory against world number one Luke Humphries in an exhibition match earlier in the weekend, seeing off an opponent 17 years his senior with an average of over 102 in a 2-1 win.
Walker’s doubles partner Burtwistle added: “He absolutely carried me through the first two rounds, but we both played our part in the last one. That 180 that he hit was fantastic, and that 145 he hit in the first round against Fallon was absolutely brilliant. Anyone who’s going to try to attempt a Luke Littler again, my money’s on this man.”
On social media, fans were left in disbelief with one saying: “12-year-old Jayden Walker has played better than the entire WDF worlds,” another added: “I don’t know why Jayden Walker playing well has shocked me tbf, he averaged 102 last night and beat Luke Humphries. The kid is insane,” and another account predicting: “Luke Littler may well be just the first of many to take darts by storm at such a young age.”
What has he said about himself?
Humble Walker described the Super Series experience as “amazing” adding: “I wasn’t expecting to win it, but I’ve seen how good my partner is on the practice board and thought we had a great chance.
“I felt great because it was the perfect start to a leg,” Walker added, questioned about the maximum. “So, whatever happened, we’d still be in the lead for the leg as well. It’s the best thing I’ve ever achieved.”
What is the Super Series’ pedigree?
The Super Series stage is no stranger to young talent, with Walker’s hero Littler winning a season of the event in 2023, before going on to claim a Premier League, World Series and Grand Slam of Darts crown so far in his young career. So, if Walker’s 102 average and 2-1 exhibition win against world champion Humphries are anything to go by, then it might not be look before the two teenagers are going head-to-head on the biggest of stages.