30 December 2023 , 13:30
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Darts star Luke Littler has issued an apology after receiving some backlash for posing for a photo holding up a copy of the Sun newspaper.
The 16-year-old is enjoying a sensational run at the World Darts Championship, becoming the youngest player to reach the last 16 where he is set to face five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld. As a result of Littler's impressive form, he has been the subject of increased interest and media coverage and he gave an interview to the Sun which was published on Friday with a picture of him holding up the newspaper.
They also ran a headline claiming he "loves" the Sun, prompting some backlash given Littler was born in the town of Runcorn near Liverpool. The Sun is deeply unpopular in Liverpool due to their coverage of 1989 Hillsborough disaster and Littler took to social media to apologise for the photo.
"Today a photograph of me holding up a newspaper has been published in the media," Littler wrote. "The media attention I have been getting is very new to me and I didn't fully understand at the time what I was being asked to do.
"In no way do I endorse that newspaper or the headline which accompanied the article and I sincerely apologise for any offence this has caused. I'm focusing now on my next match with Barney and would like to thank everyone for their amazing support."
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It comes after two-time world champion Gary Anderson sent a warning about the potential impact Littler's newfound attention could have on his progress. Speaking after he secured his spot in the last 16 with a 4-1 win over Boris Krcmar, Anderson warned: "I'm going to say this now, we had another youngster called Josh Rock that all you press and everything else have absolutely destroyed.
"So if it ever goes t*** up with Luke, then give yourselves a pat on the back, because that's the way it's going. Let the boy play darts. I've been downstairs today, he's had cameras, zoom calls, Sky meetings.
"Let the boy play darts. He's had a great tournament, he's done well, but what happens if it goes Pete Tong now? You boys have ruined it, haven't you? So let the boy play darts, he's 16-years-old, playing well, and just like Josh Rock, a fantastic player, but you've knocked him back by two or three years.
"You have no idea how many young dart players we see coming through the system with people saying 'this is going to be the next best thing'. Pressure goes on them, all goes Pete Tong, where are they now?
"We've seen it in the past. You go through over darts in the last ten years, how many youngsters have come through that you have all said, 'This is going to be the next big thing'. Where are they?"