Luke Littler may not have won the Premier League – but there is zero cause for concern over the young star’s form, insists Colin Lloyd.
The 17-year-old is in the midst of his first campaign in the tournament on the back of his impressive World Championship run, which, along with his nine-dart and Bahrain Masters heroics, has catapulted him to viral fame and notoriety. against eventual champion Luke Humphreys.
He is currently out of the play-off spots in fifth place in the Premier League table, but is level on 13 points with fourth-placed Michael Smith and third-placed Nathan Spinnell ahead of Night Nine in Belfast this Thursday.
“I’m not going to worry about it at the moment, he took a week off and I think it was a good thing and a very mature thing because he’s been doing absolutely everything since his great run at the World Championships. ,” Lloyd said. Love the Darts podcast.
“It makes you wonder if he’s had a bit of time to sit down, to relax, to put everything together and regroup and do what he’s doing. firing
“You tell people on social media that the bubble has burst, no it hasn’t! It’s very sad.”
Littler found himself back in the fight against an inspired Smith at the Night Eight in Dublin as he surrendered an early 3-1 advantage to beat the former world champion 6-4 in his quarter-final.
It was his first outing in the Premier League since Night Three in Glasgow, with his best performance coming on Night Two in Berlin when he was a beaten finalist against Michael van Gerwen.
Lloyd said he would rate Littler’s campaign as a ‘B’ so far, with Darts’ rising face just two points behind second-placed MVG.
“Let’s be brutally honest and cut a little bit about it, he’s a 17-year-old boy, give him some space,” Lloyd said. “People are hanging around his neck for some unknown reason. He’s a very talented young man with a great career ahead of him.
“He believes and knows how good he is and he shines it a little bit, so what? You want that in life and in the game. You want someone who shines a little bit and shines.
“I think he’s going to improve, it’s his first Premier League. There’s no reason why he can’t make the play-offs.”
Awaiting Littler is a rematch of the World Darts Championship final when he takes on Humphreys, who sits comfortably atop the Premier League table on 22 points.
Eight nights remain before the play-offs on Thursday 23 May at the O2 Arena.
“I’ve got a theory that Luke Littler won’t win a single night, he’ll get to the final and win the whole thing,” said Polly James Love at The Darts.
“Wouldn’t that be even better?” If he doesn’t win one night, win everything, people will lose their minds.
“I’m totally drinking Littler Cool-Aid.”
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Premier League Darts continues on Sky Sports on Thursday 8 February as Berlin is the next stop on the 17-week extravaganza leading up to the play-offs at the O2 Arena in London on Thursday 23 May. Contract through NOW