Michael van Gerwen has given a brutal reaction to Luke Littler being included in Forbes' 30 Under 30 Europe list this week.
The Dutchman said the youngster 'didn't win anything' after defeating him on night 11 of the Premier League in Birmingham on Thursday, while also dubbing his performance 'c**p'.
Littler has made a huge impact on darts since his stunning emergence at the World Championship at Alexandra Palace last December.
He has already won three PDC tournaments this year and sits top of the Premier League, well-placed to earn a play-off spot at London's O2 Arena.
Luke Littler has been criticised by Michael van Gerwen following his loss at the Premier League
Getty/Online Darts
Littler's rise was recognised by Forbes this week when he was named alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham and Lando Norris.
The list picks the 30 best young stars in their respective field, with Littler in the 'sports and games' category.
But Van Gerwen said it is 'the worst thing' when people get recognised despite not having achieved big success.
He said: "What does that mean? I know he's in the Forbes magazine, I heard it.
"For what? Based on what exactly? Yeah but he didn't win anything, that's the worst thing, isn't it.
"When people don't win anything they get into Forbes! I don't take them serious then."
Van Gerwen beat Littler 6-3 in the final on Thursday to end the youngster's hopes of a hat-trick of nightly wins.
The three-time world champion admits Littler has made a big impact on darts but admitted he was well under par this week.
Van Gerwen added: "What he did and what he created for the sport of darts I think is phenomenal, but take it easy.
"With all the respect, he played c**p tonight and I beat him with a c**p game that's the reality at the moment.
"I'm happy with that, we need to move on to the next one."
Littler is four points clear of Van Gerwen at the top of the Premier League table with five nights remaining.
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Luke Littler has had a stunning emergence in darts in recent months
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But Van Gerwen insists he is not chasing the teenager. He said: "I don't have to chase anyone. He has to chase me still.
"I'm about 150 tournaments in front of him, so good luck to him."
Littler had won three matches in a row against Van Gerwen before Thursday's encounter.
They have now faced off eight times in 2024, each with four wins to their name.
Van Gerwen has played down their rivalry but insists he could have won more than half of their encounters.
Michael van Gerwen finally got the better of Luke Littler on Thursday
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He said: "That's going to happen in this Premier League. We are going to play each other so often, you are going to lose two times, then you're going to win two times, that's the way it is.
"But the last few times he played me he played poorly, and I could I think have won a few more games against him.
"But when you don't you can only blame yourself and then you need to make sure you do perform at the right moment, and I think I did tonight.
"Even if I didn't play my 'B' game, probably played by 'C' or 'D' game, I still did ok."
