Wayne Mardle reveals why Luke Littler has left darts rivals quaking in their boots ahead of World Championships
WAYNE MARDLE has revealed why Luke Littler has left darts rivals quaking in their boots ahead of the World Championship.
Littler, 17, is one of the favourites to clinch this year’s title while avenging his debut final defeat to Luke Humphries.
The teen has enjoyed a meteoric rise up the rankings in his first year on tour.
Littler was crowned the Premier League champion after some incredible weekly displays.
And he goes into the Worlds as winner of the Grand Prix after a barnstorming win over Martin Lukeman in Sunday’s final.
Littler has now shot up the charts to be listed No5 in the world rankings while taking his career earnings to over £1million.
As a result, former pro Mardle now reckons the youngster is the man to beat at Ally Pally next month.
The Sky Sports pundit feels some of Littler’s performances at the Grand Prix were second to none.
And Mardle adds the fan favourite must be considered favourite to win the Worlds… especially if rival Humphries crashes out early.
Mardle said: “Coming into this, it was Luke Humphries, he’s the man to beat, he’s the one that they’ve all got to kid of get rid of and get out of the draw.
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“Now it’s Luke Littler and if Littler or Humphries goes out early in the Worlds, the other one goes as the favourite immediately.
“The way that Luke Littler has played this week, he was playable. At times it was unplayable — especially with Martin Lukeman and against Jermaine Wattemina.
“But two players have had a right good go at trying to beat him and just failed.
“It’s not that they can’t beat Luke, it’s just the fact that he somehow finds a way to get over the line.
“And in the long-format World Championship, he’s going to be difficult to beat, he really is, and the other players know that.”
Mardle also reckons Littler has already established himself as one of the greatest players in darts’ history.
He added: “The way we saw him acquit himself every single week in the Premier League was mind-blowing, it was mesmerising.
“It’s a real tough ask, so difficult week in, week out. But when you are good enough, none of that matters, and Littler’s good enough.
“He’s right up there with some of the best we’ve ever seen, but he’s got to do it again and again and again.
“He’s right up there with Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld and Eric Bristow, for me.”
Inside Littler's massive rise
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship at the beginning of the year.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age – smashing records along the way.
He has then gone on to win a host of PDC events and the Premier League title – which he claimed at the O2 Arena by beating world champion Luke Humphries in May.
He also finished his first season in the World Series as the No1 ranked player.
He has joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he’s even the face of a brand new cereal.
But he is newly single after splitting from girlfriend Eloise Milburn following a 10-month relationship.
Check out all of our latest Luke Littler stories.