Luke Littler (Image: Getty)
Darts icon Phil Taylor has advised young prodigy Luke Littler to skip the ’s Sports Personality of the Year gala and concentrate on his quest for the world championship title. From his Potteries stronghold, ‘The Power’ cautioned 17-year-old Littler against the allure of the “hang out on the red carpet”, telling the Mirror: “If I was his manager I’d tell him, ‘Sorry, you’re not going’ – and record a video message.”
Despite being second favourite to Olympic gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson for the ‘s esteemed award, Taylor, a 16-time world champion and former SPOTY runner-up, believes the competition at the Paddy Power PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace will be too intense for distractions.
He commented: “Littler is playing like a magician, but Luke Humphries is the man to beat at Ally Pally.
“He’s the reigning champion, he’s No.1 in the world and Littler will have to get past him in the semi-finals if the draw unfolds the way you would expect.
“If I was Luke’s manager I’d tell him, ‘Sorry, you’re not going.’ Do you want to hang out with a few celebrities on a red carpet, or do you want to win £500,000? ” “And the prize money is only part of it – if Luke wins the world title at 17 years old, the spin-offs and commercial deals will be astronomical, proper life-changing money.”
Taylor has shared his insights on young sensation Luke Littler, who at just 17 years old is already making waves in the sport. “I was lucky enough to be voted Sports Personality runner-up in 2010, and I did attend the event, but I was 50 years old and I’d won 15 world titles by then. If I was Luke, I’d record a video message.”
The prodigy known as ‘The Nuke’ is set to battle either Ryan Meikle or Fallon Sherrock at Ally Pally on December 21, shortly after the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in Manchester.
As Littler approaches his 18th birthday next month, the darts community is eager to see if his remarkable journey to the final last year will be seen as more than just youthful exuberance. Taylor advises current players: “If I was in the practice room as a player now, I would treat Luke the same way as anybody else. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
“There’s no point in patting him on the back, and saying how good he is for a 17 year old, if he’s going to turn round and knock you out of the tournament.
“But on the other hand, I wouldn’t go around trying to intimidate him and telling him, ‘You’re in with the big boys now’ – you don’t throw darts with your mouth.
“Treat him with respect, like any other opponent, and the cream will rise to the top.
“Do I think some of his unorthodox finishes rub some of the players up the wrong way? Too right, they do!
“If that was me standing on the oche, and he took out a big finish on a route that nobody else would even contemplate, he would get right up my snotter – but only because he’s so talented and brave enough to take it on.
“The kid is special. What a player, what a lift he’s given the whole game. People who never gave darts a second look are now tuning in because of Luke Littler.”
Taylor, has sung high praises for the young rising star Luke Littler and acknowledged his electrifying impact on the sport. Despite having hung up his own darts following a hip replacement and cutting-edge eye surgeries, 64-year-old Taylor expressed regret over his detachment from current events, revealing he won’t be gracing the PDC World Championship at Ally Pally due to a lack of an invitation.
“I won’t be going to Ally Pally because I haven’t been invited,” he stated. Taylor touched upon the tribute paid to him when the World Matchplay trophy was named in his honour but shared the disappointment of being replaced as its presenter.
“When they named the World Matchplay trophy after me, which was a lovely gesture, I was going to present it to the winner in Blackpool but I got a call to say somebody else was going to do it.
“That’s life – I had a fantastic career, I won both the World Championship and the World Matchplay 16 times, and then I said ‘No’ to Barry Hearn.”
Taylor reflected on his illustrious career peppered with victories and the decision to retire that followed his loss to Rob Cross seven years back despite Hearn’s urging to continue. “When I lost in the final to Rob Cross seven years ago, he wanted me to carry on and play my card out on the Pro Tour instead of retiring there and then, but I was knackered.”
Admitting to his physical exhaustion at the time, Taylor also conceded that, in hindsight, the advice of Barry Hearn, who was not just his manager for 18 years but almost a father figure, might have been the correct path.
“If I had my time again, I would have heeded Barry’s advice because he was my manager for 18 years, almost like a second father to me, and invariably he was right.
“When I won my first world title, my prize money was probably a year’s wages for the average working man in Stoke-on-Trent. Now they are playing for half a million, and thanks to Barry the world champion will soon be taking home £1 million.”