The Premier League Darts line-up has been announced, with Luke Littler making the squad after the end of the World Championships.
There was huge speculation over whether Luke Littler would be included in the 2024 event following his incredible run to the final at Alexandra Palace, before his 7-4 defeat to Luke Humphries – who backed the 16-year-old sensation to be included .
As expected, world number 1 Humphries has qualified, along with other high-ranking members of the PDC Order of Merit: Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith and Peter Wright.
Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross were also named in the list, with the event kicking off at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff on Thursday, February 1.
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.
Luke Littler will play Premier League Darts after reaching the World Cup final
Littler brought excitement and new fans to the sport with his performances at Ally Pally
Following the announcement at 4pm on Thursday, Littler said: 'I can't wait – Manchester and Liverpool are obviously very close to my home town.
'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.'
Littler was the name on everyone's lips as the talk quickly turned to the Premier League Darts after the World Championships – and champion Humphries said he would love to face him again.
“I'm not just saying this because it will please everyone, but Luke (Littler) has been an incredible talent,” he told Sky Sports.
“Not just on the dartboard, he's been fantastic with all the media that's been created with him and he's taken the defeat so well. You'll never see a down-to-earth 16-year-old boy like him again who is just something different.
'I really hope he plays in the Premier League because if he doesn't want to play fair enough in it, I think it would be a pleasure to play with him this year. He's one of the best players in the world, there's no doubt about that.'
World No. 1 Luke Humphries backed Littler to be included in the Premier League after the final
The 16-year-old sensation threw a 122 before having to ask the referee what to go for
Darts expert Wayne Mardle also weighed in, saying it was a no-brainer to involve Littler after uniting a nation and electrifying fans with his performances.
“I've been to the Premier League a few times and you get an indication and a guide of who should be involved and who shouldn't be involved. First, are you good enough? The answer with Luke Littler is yes.
“What does he bring to the table? Does he bring viewers? Does he put bums on chairs? Will there be any kind of media around him that can grow the game? Yes, it's definitely a no-brainer. For me? Yes, he will take to it like a duck to water.'
Fellow expert Mark Websiter agreed with Mardle, adding: “I don't know how they can ignore him,” Webster said. “The scorelines, the stats, the averages – he just put the players through every round.
'He is a special talent and as long as he plays like that he would be a great addition to the Premier League. He also brings the coverage and he is a young player, so he has a big appetite.
'The Premier League was designed for Luke Littler and I'm pretty sure he'll play in it.'
However, PDC chief executive Matt Porter urged caution in talks over Littler's possible inclusion, saying the organization would 'do what's right for Luke'.
“There are all kinds of things that Luke has to take into account in the future and it has to be in the right place for him and his development,” he says sadly.
“In the same vein, you have to be careful not to hold someone back when he's ready. We'll talk to his management, we'll talk to his parents, and we'll make sure we do what's right for Luke.”
Dutchman Michael van Gerwen returns to defend the title, as does number two Gerwyn Price
Rob Cross, the 2018 world champion, returns to the Premier League for the first time since 2021
Reigning champion Michael van Gerwen returns to defend his title, while last year's runner-up, Gerwyn Price, will attempt to take the top prize from the Dutchman.
Rob Cross, the 2018 world champion, returns to the Premier League for the first time since 2021, while World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall and European champion Peter Wright will also be part of the star-studded continental event.
However, many were waiting for the arrival of the World Youth Champion, and Littler's involvement will certainly keep the new darts fans hanging around the circuit for a little longer.