Luke Littler ‘may need to take a break from darts’ as warning fired ahead of Premier League night eight
Luke Littler Warned of Potential Burnout Ahead of Premier League Night Eight
Luke Littler may need to step away from darts temporarily to avoid burnout, according to darts legend Dennis Priestley. Despite his dominant performances in the Premier League, the 18-year-old star has been advised to pace himself amid his intense schedule.
Littler, who stormed onto the darts scene 14 months ago, has quickly become a household name. He is the reigning Premier League champion and recently claimed victory at the World Darts Championship.
Commanding Lead in the Premier League
Littler currently leads the 2025 Premier League table with 21 points, holding a six-point advantage over Luke Humphries. The top four also includes Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price, with Rob Cross, Nathan Aspinall, Chris Dobey, and Stephen Bunting trailing behind.
However, despite his success, Priestley has sounded a warning.
“Luke Littler says he didn’t pick up his darts for a week, but with such a packed schedule of midweek and weekend competitions, he may not even have time to practice. He’s constantly traveling between cities, and while playing frequently helps, he must be cautious to avoid burnout.”
Best Player to Never Be World No. 1?
Priestley went on to hail Littler as the best player in history never to have reached world No. 1—though he believes that will change soon.
“The only reason he isn’t No. 1 yet is due to the two-year money list system. If it were based on just one year, he’d already be at the top. It’s only a matter of time.”
Van Gerwen’s Struggles Against Littler
While Littler’s dominance continues, Michael van Gerwen has been struggling—partly due to illness since January. Priestley believes the Dutchman will struggle to keep up with the young prodigy.
“Van Gerwen won’t reach the level he needs to compete with Littler. He’s had an incredible career and will continue to practice, but Littler’s youth and natural ability make it look effortless. Van Gerwen can still win, but when it comes to matching Littler’s level, I don’t think he has any hope.”
As Littler prepares for Premier League Night Eight in Newcastle, the question remains: Will he take Priestley’s advice and slow down, or will he continue his meteoric rise without pause?
