A former Essex darts league player has gone viral at 95 after he became the face of an internet meme.

Wednesday started as an ordinary day for Bramford resident Lisa O'Brien.

However, as the day continued and 16-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler continued to play, her phone began to buzz with notifications.

"It was a surreal night," laughed Lisa.

Everyone was sharing the same story. A jokester had shared a supposed news story with the headline 'Luke Littlers dad (38) has just announced how proud he is of his son' - with a photo of her father, then 89, attached.

Echo: The spoof headline featuring Terry O'Brien from Ipswich.The spoof headline featuring Terry O'Brien from Ipswich. (Image: Lisa O'Brien)

The teenage dart player from Warrington has garnered much attention after taking the World Championship tournament by storm at just 16. 

His age has surprised many and has been the centre of many headlines and online conversations. 

Terry O'Brien had made headlines in the Colchester Gazette five years ago, when he shared the highlights of a 70-year career playing darts for the Colchester league. 

Lisa believes that the original poster must have Googled 'old darts players' and settled on the picture of her dad. 

She said the result has led to her father going viral on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, much to the delight of her father, who has a great sense of humour.

"It's unusual for a 95-year-olds to go viral - but it's so fitting for him," she laughed. 

More than three million people tuned in to watch the 16-year-old's showdown against Luke Humphries in the World Darts Championship, Sky has said. 

The 16-year-old debutant was defeated by new world number one Humphries at Alexandra Palace in London on Wednesday night, ending his dream of becoming the youngest world champion.

An average audience of 3.1 million tuned into the highly anticipated match, with the viewer numbers peaking at 3.7 million towards the end of the final, which ended 7-4, Sky Sports said.