Luke Humphries is in agreement with Gary Anderson that the media needs to ease off on Luke Littler. The 16-year-old darts sensation has received widespread attention for his impressive run at this year’s World Darts Championship.
Littler is through to the quarter-finals of the tournament after beating former champion Raymond van Barneveld on Saturday. The young starlet takes on Brendan Dolan for a place in the final four at 2.15pm this afternoon.
Many pundits have tipped ‘The Nuke’ to go all the way and win it but Anderson insists the media will be to blame if it goes “t*** up” for Littler. “See this now, because with another youngster called Josh Rock. All you press and everything else have absolutely destroyed (Rock),” said a fiery Anderson.
“So if it ever goes t*** up give yourselves a pat on the back because that’s the way it’s going. Let the boy play darts. I’ve been downstairs today and he’s had cameras, Zoom calls, Sky, let the boy play darts.
“He’s had a great two minutes, he’s played well, what happens if it all goes peacock now? Well you boys have ruined that haven’t you? Let the boy play darts, he’s 16 years old and playing well, just like Josh Rock. Fantastic player, but you have knocked him back about two to three years.”
In a similar vein, Humphries, who squares off against Dave Chisnall in the evening session, has urged the media to be more cautious. “Luke is an amazing talent, just incredible he really is,” he said. “I feel like he could just keep doing it for 10 hours straight which is so impressive…Gary is right, the media need to let him play.”
Littler has already been forced to release a statement on social media clarifying his position after ‘not fully understanding’ a recent media campaign with a national tabloid. His statement read: “Today a photograph of me holding up a newspaper has been published in the media. The media attention I have been getting is very new to me and I didn’t fully understand at the time what I was being asked to do.
“In no way do I endorse that newspaper or the headline which accompanied the article and I sincerely apologise for any offence this has caused. I’m focusing now on my next match with Barney and would like to thank everyone for their amazing support.”
The teenager also recently admitted that he is not a fan of his new-found fame.
