Barry Hawkins: Stan Moody Has What It Takes to Mirror Luke Littler's Darts Revolution

Hawkins Points to Moody as Snooker's Best Hope for a Generational Shift

The transformation Luke Littler has brought to darts over the past two years has been one of sport's most striking recent phenomena — a teenage prodigy dragging an established sport back into mainstream conversation and onto front pages. Snooker, a sport acutely aware of its own need to cultivate younger stars and fresh audiences, has been watching closely. Speaking to reporters during the 2026 World Snooker Championship qualifiers at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, Barry Hawkins identified the player he believes is best positioned to spark a comparable moment in snooker: 19-year-old Stan Moody.

Moody: The Flagbearer for Young British Snooker

Hawkins, the reigning Welsh Open champion, was unequivocal in his assessment of Moody's potential. "If anyone can become a big name in this sport, Stan's got the best chance," Hawkins said. "He has improved so much over the last couple of years. He genuinely is the flagbearer for the younger generation, especially the young British players."

The numbers support that enthusiasm. Moody, who shares the same age as Littler did when the PDC World Championship run that changed darts forever began, has been accumulating results that would have been considered well beyond a player of his experience just 18 months ago. Most notably, a 5-4 victory over World Champion John Higgins at the World Open demonstrated that Moody is already capable of competing at the highest level on the professional tour. That Higgins — part of snooker's celebrated Class of '92 alongside Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Williams and John Parrott — was beaten by a teenager carrying genuine composure rather than beginner's luck speaks to the quality Hawkins sees in him.

It is worth noting that Hawkins himself is no impartial observer when it comes to Moody's capabilities. The Hawk was beaten 5-0 by the teenager earlier this season, a scoreline that underlines exactly how formidable Moody has become even against established top-16 players. That kind of result from a 19-year-old against a player ranked inside the world's elite is precisely the sort of data point that generates genuine excitement about his trajectory.

The Littler Comparison: Inspiration With a Note of Caution

Hawkins was candid about the significance a deep tournament run by Moody could have on the sport's visibility. "If Stan were to go all the way in a tournament at some point, then that would be amazing for the game," he said. "It would get more of the young players involved. Just look what Luke did for the darts — it's just mental."

Littler's impact on darts has indeed been extraordinary. Viewing figures for PDC events surged during and after his 2024 World Championship run, social media engagement with the sport reached new peaks, and participation data pointed to a measurable uptick in younger players entering the game. Snooker's governing body, World Snooker Tour, has similarly invested in junior development pathways, but has lacked the single breakout star capable of crystallising that effort into a cultural moment. Moody entering the Crucible for the first time — he is set to begin qualifying in round three, where he faces the winner of Robbie Williams versus Ross Muir — could represent just such a moment, particularly if he were to make a significant run.

However, Hawkins was careful not to overstate the structural impact a single player could have on the competitive landscape at the top of the game. "I wouldn't get too carried away," he cautioned. "Stan's obviously a very good player, so it was no surprise that he beat John. It was not a shock to me at all. But as far as it being a watershed moment, I don't think there's going to be an influx of young talent coming through and bashing up the Class of '92 any time soon. Stan's a bit of an exception."

Why the Comparison Has Limits — and Why It Still Matters

That caveat is significant. Snooker's elite has proven remarkably resilient. O'Sullivan, who recently claimed the 2026 John Virgo Trophy, Williams and Higgins continue to compete at the highest level well into their forties. The pathway to the top remains arduous, and the professional tour's qualification structure means raw talent alone rarely translates immediately into sustained results. Moody's progress has been steady rather than explosive, which may ultimately serve him better in the long run than a single viral moment.

Yet the broader point Hawkins makes — that a young, photogenic, British talent making noise at the sport's most prestigious venue could shift public perception — is well-founded historically. When Ronnie O'Sullivan burst onto the scene in the early 1990s, the sport's profile surged in tandem. Snooker has been searching for that kind of figure for the better part of a decade. Whether Moody proves to be that player, or whether the sport must wait a little longer, his performances over the coming months at the Crucible qualifiers and beyond will go a long way to providing an answer.