Luke Littler compared to 'forgotten' Stoke-on-Trent darts champion as he's hailed 'gift from gods'

Darts wonder kid Luke Littler has been hailed by former world champion Dennis Priestley who compared the teenager to a 'forgotten' Stoke-on-Trent legend of the sport. The timing of Littler's rise to prominence at last year's World Darts Championship was impeccable, providing a much-needed boost.

With PDC head honcho Barry Hearn striving to draw more attention to darts' premier competitions, there have been talks of emulating snooker by taking certain events abroad, with locations like Saudi Arabia being considered.

Littler's stunning performance and his second-place finish at Alexandra Palace gave the sport an invigorating jolt. 'The Menace', who clinched the first-ever PDC World Darts Championship in 1994, was effusive in his assessment of the teenager's influence on darts.

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"I met up with Barry Hearn last December, and I said, 'Barry, this young Luke Littler has been a gift from the gods'." recounted Priestley during an interview with the Mirror., in association with Boyle Sports. "Coming at the right time with Phil Taylor retiring [and] Luke Humphries hitting the scene."

Phil Taylor, the sixteen-time world champion from Burslem, dominated the sport for around two decades. Now, Littler is emerging as a potential heir to Taylor's throne, although many are sceptical that anyone could match 'The Power's' record-breaking run.

He isn't the sole driver behind darts stepping into a fresh era, though, as Priestley was quick to point out other groundbreakers in today's game. The venerable 74 year old even drew parallels between Littler's playing approach and a certain Stoke-on-Trent mentee of Taylor.

"It's really nice on the eye to watch Luke Humphries and Luke Littler, with that smooth, flowing style," he elaborated. "I suppose Adrian Lewis was one of the youngsters who came through first throwing like that."

Hailing from the same stomping grounds as Taylor in North Staffordshire, Lewis, from Cross Heath, learnt from the famed arrowman prior to taking his own path. Nicknamed 'Jackpot', Lewis seized World Darts Championship titles in succession during 2011 and 2012 - yet, since then has only glimpsed the final stage once more, facing challenges to keep pace at the sport's zenith.

Once celebrated as the next big thing, Lewis was notably older at 25 when bagging his inaugural world trophy, highlighting just how prodigious Littler's talent is. With victories at the Premier League, Grand Slam and World Series of Darts already, fans are eagerly anticipating whether 'The Nuke' will triumph at Ally Pally come January.

Queried on whether the young sensation can maintain his meteoric trajectory, Priestley mused: "Well that's the million dollar question, isn't it? How long can he keep there until his confidence goes, or his [desire] for winning titles. He's got the whole world in front of him. He can be whatever he wants to be."

At 39, Lewis has admitted to taking mental health breaks from darts over the years. The former title contender announced his withdrawal from PDC competitions in 2023 and is currently more engrossed in fishing.

Gary Anderson, a favourite for the 2024 World Darts Championship, has cautioned fans not to burden young Littler with excessive expectations. 'The Flying Scotsman' expressed concern that the budding player might experience burnout.

However, current form suggests no immediate risk of that, as 'The Nuke' has consistently demonstrated his prowess against top players this year. He avenged his loss to world champion Humphries in the Premier League final but suffered another significant defeat in the Players Championship decider in November.

With potentially three decades of darts ahead of him, Littler already appears to be the champion the sport needed, possibly capable of surpassing Taylor's achievements at the oche. If he can handle the pressure, he could become the youngest world champion in darts history this month.

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