Luke Littler planted a kiss on his girlfriend prior to his World Matchplay Darts quarter-final clash with Andrew Gilding on Friday.
After dispatching both Ryan Searle and Jermaine Wattimena in previous rounds, the 18-year-old battled former UK Open winner Gilding for a place in the last four.
As Pitbull’s Greenlight played out across the speakers at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Littler made his way to the oche, but not before taking a momentary diversion that set social media alight.
Before getting the action underway, Littler walked over to his ‘friend’, Faith Miller, and planted a kiss on the 19-year-old.
The moment ultimately proved to be something of a good luck charm for Littler, who held off a late surge from Gilding to secure the 16-14 win and reach the World Matchplay semi-finals for the first time.
In doing so, The Nuke set a new Matchplay record by hitting 18 maximums to set up a semi-final showdown with World No 17 Josh Rock.
TV cameras captured a tender moment between Luke Littler and his girlfriend Faith Millar during the World Matchplay Darts quarter-final on Friday
The 18-year-old overcame a late surge from Andrew Gilding to triumph 16-14 at the Blackpool Winter Gardens
Nineteen-year-old Millar watched on as Littler reached a Matchplay semi-final for the first time in his career
He said: ‘That last leg I just had to stay focused and get over the line.
‘He won a few on the bounce when I was sat on 15 legs but I just had to do a professional job in the end.
‘I didn’t really panic. Andrew started to win a few legs, but that last leg against the darts as well, I just had to get over the line.
‘Andrews does what he does. He never goes out of rhythm. It’s the same throw by throw and try and match him.’
Littler and Millar’s camps had insisted that they were merely friends for months.
The pair were first pictured together in May when Littler shared a photo of them together to his 1.9million followers on Instagram.
Mail Sport had exclusively revealed in March that the duo had bonded, though a source insisted they were just pals.
A source said: ‘Faith and Luke have become firm friends and enjoy one another’s company a lot.
Millar (pictured) comes from Wigan, just 15 miles from Luke’s home in Warrington, Cheshire
Both Luke and Faith have been keen to play down the significance of their ‘friendship’ – insisting emphatically that they are not dating or in a relationship
‘Faith and Luke met a few weeks ago. They just clicked and since then have spent quite a bit of time with each other.
‘They live quite close to each other so it’s been easy to meet up.
‘Faith has met Luke’s mum and dad and some of the friends he grew up with and she’s been round to his mansion a few times.
‘Faith was with him at a BoohooMan event on Monday.
‘But despite trying to stay in the background, she’s been pestered quite a bit by his fans who are keen to know who she was.
‘But there’s no bit story there – she’s a very ordinary, very sweet, normal girl.
‘‘She works as an eyelash technician in Wigan but realises the fact that she hangs around with Luke, who is really famous, means that people will show her a bit of interest as well, she realises that.
‘Faith is a very sweet girl, very bubbly and kind. It’s no surprise that she and Luke get on so well.’
A source told MailOnline that the pair ‘clicked’ earlier this year and have since ‘spent quite a bit of time with each other’
Faith declined to comment about the friendship when approached outside her family home.
But a spokesman for Littler confirmed that he and Faith had struck up a friendship but said: ‘That’s as far as it goes, they are just good friends for now. Nothing more.
‘Luke doesn’t want a girlfriend at the moment, he’s focusing on his darts and is too busy travelling around the country to start up a relationship.’
Millar comes from Wigan, just 15 miles from Luke’s home in Warrington, Cheshire.
Littler previously dated beauty consultant Eloise Milburn, who watched on at the 2024 World Darts Championship as an unknown Littler became an instant sensation by reaching the final.
However, Littler reportedly ended the relationship in July of last year after his hectic schedule made it difficult for the pair to spend time together.
