Luke Littler's emergence at the PDC World Darts Championship has been no surprise to the very man who runs the academy that helped produce the teenage sensation.
The 16-year-old was an unknown quantity to the average sports fan ahead of this year's main event at Alexandra Palace.
But he soon became a household name by blowing away his vastly more experienced opponents.
Littler is now through to the semi-finals and is dreaming of going all the way and achieving the unthinkable by winning the entire tournament.
Karl Holden has worked with Luke Littler since he was nine
PA/SKY
At just 16 years of age, he would smash the previous record of the youngest-ever winner of the PDC World Championship which is currently held by Michael van Gerwen, who was 24 when he won back in 2014.
But Littler has been making a name for himself on the junior circuit for several years now and Karl Holden, who runs St Helens Darts Academy, first witnessed the young star's talents when he was just nine years of age.
Holden told Sky News: "He was good then, he was very good at the age of nine.
And Littler's former coach revealed that Littler quickly "broke the rules" he had previously set for other darts stars.
"We had a rule that you had to be over 15 to go on stage," he added.
"But he broke all the rules. We had to put him up with the under-21s before he was age 11 because he was that good.
"He's a sensational player and a naturally gifted player as well. It's not been a huge surprise to those who really know him, but to the rest of the world it's a bit of a surprise how he's done that well so quick at the age of 16.
"Littler's run to the semi-finals has seen him likened to teenage stars from other sports over the years such as Wayne Rooney, Mike Tyson and Boris Becker.
Michael Smith has also graduated from the St Helens Darts Academy
PA
And like the aforementioned sports icons, Littler is being backed to prove his showing is not purely a flash in the pan.
"I think this is just the start to be honest," Holden added.
"He's not going down and he's not levelled off, he's still going up and getting better which must be a big concern for some of the PDC players he will be playing against next year."
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Luke Littler is two wins away from becoming a world champion
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Littler follows a long line of successful darts prodigies to make it through the St Helens Darts Academy.
The reigning world champion, Michael Smith, graduated from the academy as well as English duo Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting.
Rob Cross stands in Littler's way of making it through to tomorrow night's final, where he could face either Luke Humphries or Scott Williams.
