Luke Littler could retire from darts in 'five years' after proving Premier League rival wrong

Luke Littler could retire from darts in 'five years' after proving Premier League rival wrong

WATCH NOW: Luke Littler confronted before winning the Belgian Darts Open

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 01/05/2024

- 17:49

The 17-year-old has had a stunning rise to prominence in 2024

Peter Wright reckons Luke Littler could retire from darts in just five years after being proven wrong by the youngster.

Littler has taken the sport by storm in 2024, having already won four PDC tournaments and sitting at the top of the Premier League.


The teenager burst onto the scene at the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in December, reaching the final in record-breaking fashion.

He won the Bahrain Masters in January and his first Players Championship in February, as well as picking up two European Tour trophies.

Luke Littler

Luke Littler could retire in just five years, reckons Peter Wright

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Littler is five points clear at the top of the Premier League table and is on the cusp of qualifying for the play-off stage.

Wright believes he has the potential to become the greatest player of all time 'if he doesn't get too bored'.

The Scot can see a scenario where Littler calls it a day in his early 20s if he has had enough.

Wright told the BBC: "If he wants to do [become the best], he could. But we don’t know what his plan is.

"He could play for another five years and say ‘that’s it, I have earned enough’.

"He has shaken up the sport. You see him in the back room and his routine is about five minutes practice.

"Maybe that's what we are all doing wrong - practising too much and wearing ourselves out."

Wright predicted Littler to struggle during the four-month-long Premier League and offered to give him advice when he did.

But he admits the teen sensation has proven him wrong so far, while he sits rock bottom in the table.

Wright added: "In the first or second week, I said to him ‘if you start losing, you can come to me for advice - because you will start losing’. But he hasn’t yet.

"It's what we needed. Michael van Gerwen came onto the scene just after Phil Taylor and raised the bar, and Littler he is doing the same.

"It is good for everyone else, to make us get our fingers out and practice harder."

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Luke Littler and Peter Wright

Luke Littler has proven Peter Wright wrong with his Premier League performances

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Wright has picked up just four points from the first 13 nights of the Premier League.

This week he heads back to Scotland, with Aberdeen hosting Thursday's action.

Two two-time world champion Wright is hoping to put on a show for his home crowd.

Wright said: "I am really looking forward to it. Hopefully I can win the night for my fans.

Peter Wright

Peter Wright is hoping for a return to form in Aberdeen this week

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"You don’t want to let the crowd down, you don’t want to let your country down, but I feel good, and I believe I can do it.

"I’ve gone back to choosing the darts I want on the night, and I’m in a better place mentally for doing that, which is what I’m going to carry on doing.

"The pressure is going to be on the players fighting for the Play-Offs, not me anymore, so I can go up and enjoy it and hopefully perform at my best."

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