Michael van Gerwen has voiced his surprise at teenage darts prodigy Luke Littler’s decision to skip multiple tournaments this season. The Dutchman, a three-time world champion, called Littler’s approach “unthinkable” for someone so young.
Littler, just 18, is already a major force on the darts circuit and is currently competing in the German Darts Trophy, where he’s eyeing his second European Tour title of the year. Despite his rapid rise, Littler has opted to pull out of several events, with his team strategically managing his schedule to prevent burnout.
“He’s a phenomenon, no doubt,” Van Gerwen told HLN.be. “But I find it surprising that he’s already reluctant to attend certain tournaments. That would’ve been unthinkable for me at his age.”
While most players at Littler’s stage would be grinding through the tour to build ranking points and experience, the young star has already banked enough prize money to sit second in the world rankings. That financial cushion allows him to prioritize rest and peak performance in high-stakes events.
Van Gerwen, though critical, acknowledged Littler’s talent: “He’s not a flash in the pan—he’s too good for that. But he does lose early sometimes on the Pro Tour. Maybe it frustrates him, but you’d never know. Me? The steam would be coming out of my ears!”
Having lost several times to Littler recently, including a high-profile clash at Alexandra Palace in January, Van Gerwen admits the rivalry is heating up. “I don’t see it as a problem,” he added. “I’m a big boy. If you dish it out, you have to take it too. For me, it’s about staying sharp.”
The darts legend concluded with a nod to the sport’s relentless schedule: “These days, if someone says I’ve lost four in a row, I just say—there are 30 more matches this year. That’s how it goes.”
