Darts
Luke Littler Calls for Gary Anderson's Return to the Premier League After Grand Slam Triumph
Luke Littler reflects on his Grand Slam victory and calls for Gary Anderson's return to the Premier League, despite Anderson's reluctance to travel and his age.
Teenage sensation Luke Littler left the darts world in awe as he crushed Martin Lukeman 16-3 in the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts final, lifting the prestigious Eric Bristow Trophy in his debut year.
Littler’s ruthless display saw him win an incredible 15 consecutive legs, showcasing a level of composure and talent beyond his years.
Newly Crowned Grand Slam Champion
Following the final, the newly crowned champion reflected on how much his life has transformed over the past year. Despite the fame and money, Littler insists he remains unchanged, with his family simply having “got used to it.”
"It's changed massively, and we [him and his family] had a chat after the World Championship. We all just had to get used to it," he shared.
He went on to tell an anecdote about taking his family to Wales after the World Championships in January, retreating into isolation in anticipation of their new “normal” life that awaited them on their return.
“After the worlds, we just went to Wales in the middle of nowhere, no one knew where we were, and then we came back, and I won in Bahrain, which was a good start to the year. But what I've done since, I can't thank myself enough, and obviously the managers and the sponsors behind them.”
Recognised Everywhere
Littler also humorously mentioned that he has never visited anywhere since his breakthrough in the sport without being recognised.
“I get recognised everywhere, but that's part of my profile, that's part of being a big name in the sport,” he joked.
Littler on Anderson’s Premier League Return
On his road to the final, Littler survived a significant scare in the semi-finals against two-time World Champion Gary Anderson, edging out the Scottish legend 16-15 in an epic clash.
Anderson has repeatedly stated he will not return to the Premier League of Darts, even if asked by the PDC or Sky Sports, expressing a desire to be the first world champion to turn down the prestigious competition.
Littler described the semi-final as one of the best matches of his career and shared his thoughts on whether Anderson should reconsider his decision and make a Premier League comeback. While Littler would relish seeing Anderson in the 16-week event, he understands the veteran’s reservations.
"I'd love to see him in the Premier League and play week in, week out again," Littler said.
"It's up to Gary. He's been in the game for many years. He picked up one or two Premier League trophies."
The young champion concluded the interview with a playful jab at Anderson, joking about his age and reluctance to travel.
“But to him, he's getting on a bit, isn't he?” Littler quipped. “He doesn't like to travel, so it's all down to Gary.”
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