"He’s terrific, he really is."
Kolkata’s Aryaveer Chokhani may only be 14, but he’s already being compared to Luke Littler.
The comparison isn’t just a throwaway line.
It comes from one of darts’ most respected figures, Russ Bray, who believes Aryaveer might be the subcontinent’s answer to Littler.
With India’s darting scene beginning to flourish, Chokhani’s rise could be the spark that lights a revolution.
Just like Littler captured imaginations with his fearless talent, Aryaveer Chokhani is doing the same in India – with a smooth throw, ice-cool temperament, and big-match mentality.
If Bray’s instinct is right, Indian darts may have found its prodigy.
Finding a Star
For nearly 30 years, Russ Bray’s gravel-toned calls echoed across darts’ grandest stages.
Now a PDC ambassador, Bray spends his time growing the game globally, especially in emerging continents like Asia.
He’s seen thousands of players across his storied career. But something about Aryaveer Chokhani stands out.
Bray said: “He’s their national champion, he’s mustard.
“When I say he’s good, I mean he’s good, I’m talking absolutely, magnificently good.”
Bray watched Chokhani dismantle India’s top-ranked player Nitin Kumar at the Bengal Rowing Club Championship final in Kolkata.
Bray recalled: “He destroyed him.
“He’s terrific, he really is. A very natural dart player with a very natural throw on him. He’s got a good attitude as well and has a bit of bite about him.
“He shows a bit of emotion too. He could be the real deal.”
Darts in India
Aryaveer Chokhani’s rise coincides with a darts surge in India.
The game has seen a rapid transformation.
The 2023 PDC Indian Qualifier had 35 players. A year later, there were 153 players.
That jump in numbers isn’t just about interest. There’s now an infrastructure being built to support it.
Bray said: “I’ve managed to get the IDC involved, the Indian Darts Council.
“They’re going to be putting together Premier League-type events.”
With televised qualifiers, dedicated tournaments, and wider regional reach, Indian darts is no longer an afterthought. For a country with over a billion people, the potential is enormous.
Bray added: “There’s a billion-odd people in India, there’s got to be a Luke Littler, a Phil Taylor, a Michael van Gerwen.
“There must be, it’s just a matter for us to find them.”
Defeating Nitin Kumar
Nitin Kumar has flown India’s flag at the PDC World Championship four times.
At the 2025 edition, he even took a set off Grand Slam runner-up Martin Lukeman before eventually losing 3-1.
For Aryaveer Chokhani to beat him convincingly in a national final isn’t just impressive, it’s a statement.
Because of age restrictions, Chokhani couldn’t compete in the World Championship himself. But he didn’t just hold his own. He dominated.
Bray stated: “When I say he’s good, I mean he’s good. He has the right type of attitude and he’s certainly got the right type of throw.”
For someone still in his early teens, those qualities are rare. And against elite competition, they’re vital.
Asia’s Ascent in World Darts
The rise of players like Aryaveer Chokhani isn’t happening in isolation.
Darts in Asia is recovering from a pandemic-era lull, where travel restrictions and high costs stunted its growth.
Bray explained: “Covid set darts in Asia back a few years. You had to have visas and all sorts, so no one could travel.”
Even now, the path isn’t easy.
“Very few guys on the Asia Tour are professional players. They have to take time off from work. It’s not an easy thing.”
But the signs are promising.
At the 2025 World Championship, Filipino star Paolo Nebrida reached the third round, a first for a Southeast Asian male player in over a decade.
Bray added: “These players are more than capable, it’s just a case of getting them to believe it.
“They need good competition, week in, week out, and it will happen. We will find someone out in Asia.”
Aryaveer Chokhani’s journey is only beginning, but his early milestones suggest something special.
In a country where darts has long flown under the radar, he’s already India’s best at just 14. And with backing from someone like Russ Bray, his future looks as sharp as his throw.
Aryaveer Chokhani symbolises a broader shift – the rise of darts in India, and Asia more widely.
The talent is there. Now, with the right opportunities, the world may soon witness India’s darting revolution.
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