WARRINGTON’s teenage darts sensation Luke Littler WILL compete in Premier League Darts following his fairytale run to the final of the PDC World Championship.
Only eight players contest the 16-week series and the 16-year-old, who was beaten 7-4 by Luke Humphries in Wednesday’s final, has been included.
World number one Humphries is also involved and will make his debut in the competition which starts in Cardiff on 1 February.
Littler, who turns 17 later this month, will be the youngest player ever to compete in the Premier League.
Defending Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen and runner-up Gerwyn Price return, while Michael Smith, Peter Wright and Rob Cross make it six current or former world champions in the eight. Nathan Aspinall, the World Matchplay champion in 2023, completes the line-up.
“It’s unbelievable. No more development tour. This is it. Playing in the Premier League and comfortably in the (world’s top) 32,” Littler told Sky Sports News.
“As soon as I came off the stage, did the media and saw the family, my manager pulled me aside and said ‘Do you want to do it?’ I said, ‘Let’s do it, it might not happen again’.
“I’ll probably have to take a break maybe from a few ProTours but I knew what was coming as soon as I said yes to the Premier League.
“This is just going to be an incredible experience.”
Fairytale final ends in defeat for Warrington boy who changed the world of darts
