Luke Littler, 16, will be 'a bit shell-shocked' in Premier League darts amid grueling schedule, claims legend Bobby George… but the teenager could rake in £275,000 if he wins the 16-week series
Teen doctor sensation Luke Littler is in for a shock in the Premier League according to legend Bobby George.
Littler, 16, will be the youngest player ever to take part in the sport's biggest roadshow as he has been named in the eight-man field.
His participation follows a dream run at the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, which captured the public imagination.
Littler was supported by his parents Anthony and Lisa, as well as his girlfriend Eloise Milburn, 21, during his run to the final, where he was defeated by Luke Humphries.
George told The sun that Littler would be competitive in the series, but admitted he worried the relentless traveling could take its toll.
Luke Littler, 16, has been warned he could be in for a shock in the darts Premier League series
Darts legend Bobby George believes traveling in the series could lead to burnout
Littler has been included in the series following his stunning performance at the World Championships
'He'll be shocked for a moment. He has to travel a lot and keep track of time,” said George, who was known as the King of Bling during his career.
'He'll be exhausted. He won't be home much. He's young.
'He has an obligation and he has to do it. But he has a good family behind him.'
The series, which kicks off in Cardiff on February 1, features a grueling schedule with 16 different locations in 16 weeks.
The tournament heads to Berlin and Rotterdam, in addition to venues in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, before the May 23 final in London.
World number 1 Humphries will also play in the Premier League, along with Van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Peter Wright, Rob Cross and Nathan Aspinall.
The format consists of 16 mini-tournaments, each in a different location. Each week starts with four quarter-finals and proceeds as a knockout until a winner of the night is crowned.
The matches will be best-of-11 legs, with the winner earning five points towards their overall season total, the runner-up three points and the two losing semi-finalists two points each.
The top four players in the final rankings will qualify for the play-off at the O2 Arena in London on May 23, where they will compete in the semi-finals of the best-of-19 leg and then a best-of-19 leg 21 final to determine the champion. .
Littler is likely to spend a lot of time without his family and girlfriend Eloise Milburn after winning a place on the Premier League darts tour
Littler's father Anthony and mother Lisa watch the action at Alexandra Palace
New world champion Luke Humphries will be one of the players Littler faces in the series
There is a £1 million prize pool for the Premier League Darts in 2024, with the winner taking home £275,000, while the weekly winner of each of the 16 nights leading up to the play-offs will win £10,000 for his or her participation. prize fund.
James Wade, who won the Premier League in 2009, has also expressed concern that the series could take its toll after Littler's swift inclusion in the competition.
Wade warned that the series could be a “lonely and exhausting roadshow.”
Littler, who turns 17 on January 21, has played down concerns and insisted the series will be a “great experience.”
Following Thursday's announcement, Littler said: 'I can't wait – Manchester and Liverpool are obviously very close to my home city.
'I'm looking forward to the beautiful Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin and trips to Cardiff and Brighton. It will be a great experience.
'Playing darts week in, week out in front of tens of thousands of fans, against the best players in the world, is a dream come true.
'I've seen all the darts before. It will be a great experience for myself and I am happy to have the opportunity. It will be a good test for myself.
'But that's the nature of the Premier League. I just have to do what I do and show why I'm there every week.'