Luke Littler has received some crucial advice from PDC president Barry Hearn, who believes the young darts sensation has the potential to become one of the greatest players of all time. However, Hearn has warned that Littler must remain focused and not allow the financial rewards of his success to distract him from achieving his full potential.
It has been nearly a year since Littler announced himself to the world in spectacular fashion at the World Championships, where he reached the final at just 16 years old, ultimately finishing as runner-up to Luke Humphries. Since then, the Runcorn-born star has continued his meteoric rise, accumulating significant winnings and establishing himself as one of the most exciting players in the sport.
Littler’s performance at the Alexandra Palace alone earned him £200,000, and he has only added to his earnings with several tournament victories in the months since. The most lucrative of these came with his triumph in the 2024 Premier League, where he pocketed a staggering £275,000 after defeating Humphries once again in a dominant final at the O2 Arena.
With the 2024 darts season entering its final stretch, Littler now faces the challenge of maintaining his focus and motivation in the face of his rapidly growing wealth. Hearn, who has witnessed the rise and fall of many sporting prodigies, has urged the young star to stay disciplined and ensure that financial success does not derail his ambitions.
Speaking on his podcast ‘The Barry Hearn Show’, the PDC president emphasized the importance of Littler’s mindset moving forward: “He has the potential to be one of the greats of all time. That is the sacrifice he has to make. Does money spoil him along the way? No one really knows the answer, will he be or won’t he be? It will largely depend on him and how he copes with his new world. I think he will surprise a lot of people with his maturity as he already has. The way he handles himself. He’s excellent.”
Hearn continued, stressing the need for Littler to remain grounded: “Let’s hope he keeps like that. We are being entertained by greatness. There are a dozen or so players that have the potential from 12 years up… We need to be able to tell a story, set the scene. We need to involve everybody, get people talking. Luke Littler did that. By the way, he’s still got a long way to go. I think he’s a sensible boy, I think he knows that. He’s pacing himself and he’s going to get beat as well, he’s not going to suddenly blow everybody away.”
Despite his incredible start to life as a professional darts player, Littler remains aware that his journey is only beginning. His next major challenge will come at the World Darts Grand Prix in Leicester next week, where he will aim to add another prestigious title to his growing list of achievements. With a winner’s purse of £120,000 on the line, Littler has an opportunity to significantly increase his earnings, and there is speculation that he could reach millionaire status shortly after his 18th birthday.
Following the Grand Prix, Littler will turn his attention to the Players Championship Finals before returning to Alexandra Palace at the end of the year for another shot at the biggest prize in the sport. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Littler can maintain his remarkable form and solidify his place among darts’ elite.
With the backing of influential figures like Barry Hearn and the unwavering support of his fans, Littler’s future looks incredibly bright. However, as Hearn has pointed out, talent alone is not enough to guarantee greatness. Discipline, dedication, and the ability to handle success will be just as important as his undeniable skill on the oche.
For now, Littler appears to have his feet firmly on the ground. If he can continue to manage his newfound wealth and fame with the same maturity he has shown so far, there is every reason to believe that he can go on to achieve legendary status in the sport. The darts world will be watching closely as he embarks on the next stage of what promises to be an extraordinary career.
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