Luke Littler: Barry Hearn says teenage darts star can become multiple world champion Darts News

Promoter Barry Hearn says Luke Littler has taken darts “from a sport into the mainstream” however the teenage star “will not be like Phil Taylor” Taylor monopolized the game.

Littler rose to prominence by reaching the ultimate of the PDC World Darts Championship earlier this yr.

The junior and world junior champion defeated Brendan Dolan, Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Okay when getting into the competitors exterior the highest 100. Rob Cross, reached the Alexandra Palace finals earlier than shedding painfully to Luke Humphries.

Nicknamed “Nuke” Littler went on to win World Collection titles in Bahrain and Poland and European Tour titles in Austria and Belgium.

The 17-year-old responded to his critics by successful the title and the £275,000 prime prize in his debut season after being chosen as a wildcard for this season’s Premier League.

“There is a feeling throughout the skilled darts group of, ‘Is not it a little bit too early to place younger folks beneath that type of strain?’ 17 nights in a row, at the least 10,000 followers each Thursday night time – “Can he deal with it? “Will this have an effect on his long-term future?” “Wait, wait, wait,” mentioned Matchroom Sport president Hearn. sky sports activities.

“Eddie and I sat down to speak about this, and the very first thing Eddie mentioned was, ‘Irrespective of how previous you’re, so long as you are ok, you are sufficiently old.’ Our job is to offer folks an opportunity to become involved. .

“The child is a beautiful boy. He’s a expertise that can final for a very long time. He isn’t going to win each match as a result of the usual of darts is so excessive and there are such a lot of nice gamers and that is why it will possibly Win the sport.

Hearn seems to imagine that Littler has introduced darts into the mainstream, with the teenage sensation serving as an inspiration to many aspiring kids.

He mentioned: “This younger man has obtained his toes on the bottom. He has the precise perspective and there are dozens of Luke Littlers behind Luke Littler from everywhere in the world and that is what’s thrilling about it.”

“This darts sport hasn’t actually began but. Everybody thinks it is massive, and it’s, however there’s nonetheless an extended, lengthy technique to go.

“Littler took us from a sport to the mainstream. Abruptly, youngsters had been watching, grandma and grandpa, dad and mom had been watching. It turned what we have at all times been in search of in sports activities – a story. It is about persona and the story behind that persona, and getting folks concerned to allow them to benefit from the sport from a number of completely different views.

Littler might have joined Jude Bellingham within the Forbes Europe 30 Underneath 30 record, however what does his future in darts appear to be? Hearn would not assume the Warrington ace can equal Phil Taylor’s file of 16 world titles.

“Phil Taylor’s title battle might be untouchable,” Hearn admitted. “The person is an absolute legend, however competitors wasn’t as fierce on the time as it’s now. As a result of these darts gamers had been incomes thousands and thousands of kilos a yr and had big futures, it attracted quite a lot of expertise from the broader area who wished to strive darts. crowd.

“It is not a tough sport to know and it is a exhausting sport to grasp, however now we have the flexibility to try this contemplating we’re utilizing abnormal folks however they’ve extraordinary talents, so I believe Luke Littler can Develop into a a number of winner.

What’s subsequent for Sky Sports activities?

The 2024 Boyle Sports activities World Grand Prix is ​​the following occasion on the Sky Sports activities Darts calendar.

The annual £600,000 occasion will happen at Leicester’s Mattioli Enviornment from October 7 to 13, with 32 of the world’s prime stars vying for the coveted title, finally received by Lou Received by Luke Humphries.

Humphreys celebrated his first TV rating title by defeating Gwen Worth eventually yr’s event, and the world primary will return to defend his title later this yr.

Six-time champion Michael van Gerwen may also star, with teenage famous person Luke Littler set to make his double-header debut within the East Midlands.

In contrast to final yr’s format, the semi-finals on Saturday, October 12 will likely be performed in a best-of-nine-set format, whereas the ultimate will likely be performed in a best-of-11 set format on Sunday, October 13.

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