Phil Taylor has warned Luke Littler the pressure is on him to replicate his performance at the World Darts Championship.
But the 16-time world champion has backed the teenager to keep his feet on the ground as he enters a huge 2024.
Littler's fairytale at Alexandra Palace came to an end on Wednesday when he lost in the final to Luke Humphries.
'Cool Hand' Humphries came back from 4-2 down to win 7-4 and claim his first world title, just a day after he was confirmed as the new world No 1.
Luke Littler has been sent a word of warning from Phil Taylor
Getty
No one knows how to win on the world stage more than Taylor and he insists Littler's performance has been huge for the sport.
He told ITV: "He was brilliant, he was brilliant. And what he's done is he's put excitement back in the game, I think anyway.
"I'm getting the reaction off the general public.
"My cousin phoned me and said 'He's exciting to watch like you were at your peak' and he is. He's really, really good.
"He was unlucky not to win last night. Luke Humphries did brilliant."
But 'The Power' has sent a word of warning to Littler that he must now back up the levels he has shown in recent weeks.
Littler will be on the Pro Tour and European Tour this year and will compete in more TV majors.
Taylor says the pressure will be on the 16-year-old to hit the heights he reached at Ally Pally.
But he reckons he has the right people around him in order to live up to his billing.
"It's brilliant isn't it, it's fantastic," Taylor added.
"He's done brilliant the lad has, I'm really proud of him.
"The pressure is going to be on his shoulders obviously, he's got to take it now.
"He's made a rod for his own back as such. But I'm sure he can handle it.
"He's got a good manager, he looks after him, he's got good parents and I think he'll keep his feet on the ground and I think he'll move on from here."
LATEST SPORTS NEWS
Luke Littler has been warned the pressure is on his shoulders
Getty
Meanwhile, Taylor's former rival and three-time world champion Jon Part has also given his verdict on Littler.
The Canadian reckons he will suffer a comedown once he gets back to playing smaller events.
And Part believes beating Littler will be a target for many on the tour.
Part said on Sky Sports: "It's going to be a bit of a shock to his system when he [Littler] goes back to the behind-closed-doors tour environment after being spoiled by all this attention.
Luke Littler has enjoyed plenty of media spotlight
Getty
"I know he's done a lot of that just to get here, with the development tour and youth championships, but it's going to be a new grind for him.
"Littler will be a feather in people's cap if they can beat him."
