Former world darts champion Dennis Priestley has urged Luke Littler to consider taking a break to prevent burnout amid his grueling schedule.
Since securing his first World Championship title at Alexandra Palace in January, Littler has been nonstop, competing across multiple events and stacking up victories.
A Relentless Schedule
Littler recently secured his third Premier League Darts win of the season in Cardiff. His packed calendar includes defending his Premier League Darts title—an intense 16-week tournament spanning the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands, culminating in the playoffs in London this May.
Before this year’s Premier League campaign, the 18-year-old had already added the UK Open and Dutch Darts Masters to his growing list of accolades.
However, Priestley, the 1994 World Champion, warns that Littler’s demanding schedule could take a toll:
“Luke says he didn’t pick up his darts for a week, but he probably doesn’t even have time to practice properly. He’s constantly traveling, competing midweek and on weekends—he has to be careful not to burn out.”
Littler on Track for World No.1
Despite the concerns, Priestley is confident that Littler will dethrone Luke Humphries as world No.1 this year:
“You could say Littler is the best player never to have been world No.1—but that’s about to change. The only thing stopping him is the two-year money ranking system. If it were based on one year, he’d already be at the top.”
Managing His Workload
Littler has acknowledged the need for short breaks to stay fresh. Speaking after his Cardiff victory, he said:
“I’ve been playing really well, but I have to admit—I didn’t pick up a dart for a whole week before this. You need to rest sometimes, and I took a week to relax. But I’m loving my performances right now.”
With 21 points already on the board, Littler is well on track to secure his spot in the O2 play-off finals.
What’s Next?
The Premier League Darts campaign continues this week in Newcastle, where Littler faces Stephen Bunting in the quarter-finals. Elsewhere, the night features:
- Gerwyn Price vs. Rob Cross
- Luke Humphries vs. Chris Dobey
- Michael van Gerwen vs. Nathan Aspinal
