Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler faces a shock in the Leading League in accordance to legend Bobby George.
Littler, 16, will be the youngest participant at any time to characteristic in the sport’s most significant roadshow owning been named in the eight powerful field.
His inclusion follows a desire operate at the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace which captured the community creativity.
Littler was backed by his mothers and fathers Anthony and Lisa, as effectively as girlfriend Eloise Milburn, 21, all through his operate to the last, wherever he was crushed by Luke Humphries.
George advised The Sun that Littler would be aggressive in the sequence, but admitted owning problems the relentless travel associated could just take its toll.
Luke Littler, 16, has been warned he could experience a shock in the darts Premier League collection
Darts legend Bobby George thinks the travel invovled in the collection could direct to melt away out
Littler has been involved in the series immediately after his amazing operate at the Earth Championships
‘He’s likely to have a little bit of a shock. He has a large amount of travelling and timekeeping to do,’ reported George, who was acknowledged through his occupation as the King of Bling.
‘He’ll be worn out. He is not going to be residence really a great deal. He is younger.
‘He has a motivation and he has got to do it. But he has a excellent family at the rear of him.’
The collection, which gets underway in Cardiff on February 1, comes with a gruelling schedule with 16 diverse locations in 16 months.
The tournament goes to Berlin and Rotterdam in addition to venues in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Eire and the Republic of Ireland before the May well 23 finale in London.
World No 1 Humphries will also perform in the Premier League alongside with Van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Peter Wright, Rob Cross and Nathan Aspinall.
The structure contains of 16 mini-tournaments, just about every in a different location. Just about every week begins with four quarter-finals and proceeds as a knockout right up until a winner of the night is crowned.
Matches are best-of-11 legs with the winner earning five points for the in general season complete, the runner-up three factors and the two losing semi-finalists two factors apiece.
The major 4 gamers in the ultimate standings qualify for the perform-off at London’s O2 Arena on May 23, wherever they facial area-off in greatest-of-19 leg semi-finals and then a greatest-of-21 last to make your mind up the winner.
Littler is probable to put in rather a lot of time away from his family members and girlfriend Eloise Milburn immediately after successful a place on the Premier League darts tour
Littler’s father Anthony and mum Lisa watch the motion at the Alexandra Palace
New environment champion Luke Humphries will be between the players Littler faces in the collection
There is a million pound prize pot for the Premier League Darts in 2024, with the winner set to choose residence £275,000 of that – even though the weekly winner of just about every of the 16 evenings top up to the participate in-offs will acquire £10,000 for their prize fund.
James Wade, who gained the Leading League in 2009, has also expressed issues the collection could take its toll immediately after Littler was quick tracked into the competitors.
Wade warned that the series can be a ‘lonely and tiring roadshow’.
Littler, who will transform 17 on January 21, has performed down issues and insisted the series will be an ‘amazing experience’.
Right after Thursday’s announcement, Littler stated: ‘I won’t be able to wait around – of course Manchester and Liverpool are really shut to my hometown.
‘I’m searching ahead to the impressive Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin as perfectly as visits to Cardiff and Brighton. It is likely to be an amazing working experience.
‘Playing darts week-in, week-out, in front of tens of 1000’s of followers, towards the world’s very best gamers is a aspiration come correct.
‘I’ve watched all the darts right before. It’ll be an wonderful working experience for myself and I am happy I have the option. It will be a good test for myself.
‘But that is the nature of the Premier League – I have just acquired to do what I do and exhibit why I am there each individual week.’