Luke Littler is aiming to defend his Premier League Darts title this year (Image: GETTY)
has admitted he gets “annoyed” when his darts rivals raise their game against him. The 18-year-old is preparing to defend his title after winning the competition during his maiden appearance last year.
Littler will be in action in Belfast tonight (Thursday) as the 2025 edition of the gets underway.
He will take on Michael van Gerwen in his quarter-final showdown after in the final at the start of the year.
“Over the past six to eight months, we know that there’s been a target on our backs and people will raise their games against us,” Littler explained in a press conference on Wednesday as he previewed the campaign.
“Does it annoy me? Oh yeah. Oh, it does annoy me. They will probably play the 64th in the world and throw a mid-90s average but still get the win. With me, I just know within the first leg against anyone, I know what’s coming.
“Ever since last year, I have known that these players are going to have to pull it out of the bag to beat me.
“But when they do beat me with a high average, I am like, ‘Yeah, you have got me there, but can you do it in the next game and the game after that?’”
Luke Littler got the better of Michael van Gerwen in the World Darts Championship final in January (Image: GETTY)
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He then hit back with a sly dig at his conquerors: “When a player does beat me with a high average, usually you see them go out next round.”
Van Gerwen took aim at Littler after the teenager arrived to the press conference late as he exclaimed: “They need to stop treating him as a baby. He’s not a baby anymore – he’s 18 years old.”
But Littler responded to the three-time world champion as he hissed: “You know what Michael’s like. He called me lazy – I was just laughing at him.”
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The will be played across the UK, Ireland and Europe over 16 nights, with a winner being crowned at the Play-Offs in London at the end of May.
Littler is the favourite to lift the trophy for the second consecutive year after toppling Luke Humphries in last year’s showpiece match.
And the blockbuster star has been given the opportunity to get his hands on a if he can hit a nine-darter during the tournament. The bonus prize is on offer to any player who hits the perfect score and will be claimed every time someone achieves the feat.