‘PRESSURE ON LITTLER HAS GONE INSANE’
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has warned boy wonder Luke Littler could “drift” away from darts if he is weighed down by excessive attention.
As the 17-year-old sensation (above) admitted he could retire by the time he’s 27, Van Gerwen said the pressure on Luke the Nuke was “insane” – and could drive him away from the sport.
In Newcastle on Thursday night, MVG recorded his third straight win against Littler in the semi-finals on night four at the BetMGM Premier League.
It was another tight contest between the two most exciting players on the circuit, but Van Gerwen sounded the alarm about the cult of celebrity which follows Littler’s every move.
The Warrington wonder had revealed he may be cooked before he turns 30, saying: “I’ve been playing a long time in the juniors, in the old British Darts Federation.
“I might just do 10 or 15 years and retire if I’ve had enough.”
And three-times world champion Van Gerwen (right), who has already played at the top for 15 years himself, warned: “He’s a young kid. How much pressure everyone puts on his shoulders is insane.
“I know, as a player, how it is. I don’t think it’s fair on him. But that’s my opinion.
“Let him enjoy his life. Let him do his own thing. If he puts his shoe on, puts his darts in the sand, puts his finger in his nose, whatever he does, people speak about it. Of course that happens with famous people, but let him live his life.
“I just like darts and I want to protect the product. I like to perform to the highest level, and that’s why I like to play against Luke Littler.
“But if you keep doing this, I’ve seen a lot of kids in his position drift off. So I don’t think that’s good for the sport.”
Van Gerwen went on to win for a third consecutive night at the Premier League, and next week in Exeter he will be going for an unprecedented four-ina-row since the competition was revamped.
He said: “No one ever did that? Michael Smith’s three wins last year is the best? I will have to change that next week!
“My game is there and there’s a lot to fight for still, but I’m not going to set myself any targets. I’m going to go week by week.
“Last year I did that (set long-term goals) and I didn’t do myself any favours. I was getting a little bit too relaxed.”