Luke Littler hits back at Michael van Gerwen after 'big boys' league' jibe
Luke Littler has brushed off comments from Michael van Gerwen after the Dutch destroyer warned the darts sensation he was now in the “big boys'” league.
Littler, 17, has seen his life transform before his very eyes following his unbelievable run in the World Championships, where he was eventually beaten in the final by Luke Humphries.
The teenager's Ally Pally antics earned him a shock call-up to the Premier League roster ahead of this week's big kick-off - but he got short shrift from Van Gerwen ahead of Thursday night's curtain-raiser.
“He’s had a fabulous last two months – but it’s only two months, yeah? He needs to do it for a very long time,” Van Gerwen said. “He's got everything to be a top 10 player in the next 20 years, but you still have to do it. He is still young.”
When he was then asked if he felt protective of the youngster Van Gerwen added: “Really? Of course not. Welcome to the big boys. He is not a youth player any more. Those days are gone. Of course, he’s still only a kid, but now you have got to battle against each other on the stage and there cannot be any mercy whatsoever.
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“It’s not hard at the moment because he doesn’t have any scars. Whatever he does, being a runner-up is good, winning is good. Whatever he does, whatever he says, everybody loves everything about him. But during a game, if he looks at his watch and says, ‘How can I miss again?’, in five years’ time they will boo you. That’s the way darts works now.
“At the beginning everything goes well, but then everything gets normal. Guys like him only get born once in so many years and he’s a special talent, of course, but he still has to do it every year. He is with the big guys now.”
Van Gerwen had warned Little he's now in with the "big boys" (X/OfficialPDC)Littler, who faces Humphries in a rematch of the Worlds final, seemingly took little notice of Van Gerwen's attempts to stir the pot, retorting: “Big boys' league? Surely I am one of them now! I have joined them in the big boys' League. This is what I have signed up for – to play with the best of the best. I am looking forward to playing these boys week-in, week-out.”
He also politely declined Humphries' offer of senior players helping to protect the youngster during the relentless tour, adding: “I am grateful for what Luke has said. But I know what’s in line, I know I can handle it all myself.”
Humphries, who would love to be pitting his wits again Littler on the big stage “for the next 20 years”, said of the hotly anticipated rematch: “It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Even if he beats me in our next 10 meetings in a row, I got the one that mattered the most - the World Championship trophy.”
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