Luke Littler joins pantheon of greats at sport’s biggest pantomime

The teenager was expected to be tested by Gian van Veen but the only thing to ruffle him was the Ally Pally wasp.

LITTLER AND LARGE: Luke Littler celebrates with the Sid Waddell trophy.

Few sports stars in history are so precocious that their place in the pantheon is assured by the time they are 18. Pelé was one. Nadia Comaneci another. Boris Becker too. Now you can add Luke Littler to that list.

Most experts had expected Gian van Veen to give Littler a proper test. He did. For three sets. Then this final became a rout. After his 7-1 dismantling, Van Veen was asked whether Littler was unstoppable. “It felt like it,” came the sad reply.