Luke Littler's early darts retirement predicted by former world champion

Luke Littler has been tipped for an early retirement from darts by former world champion Glenn Durrant, who has doubts over his longevity in the game.

Littler has dominated darts since bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old, winning two World Darts Championships, two Premier Leagues and a whole host of majors in the sport.

He tops the PDC Order of Merit with earnings of more than £3 million as of October 4 and has won 14 PDC major singles titles.

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That feat places Littler third in the all-time list and given he is still 19, many have tipped him to break Phil Taylor's record of 16 world championships.

However, three-time BDO world champion Durrant does not believe Littler will ever get to Taylor's tally because he believes he will have packed darts in by the time he reaches 30.

Speaking to OLBG, the Sky Sports commentator stated: "I’ve said 10 years. Maybe to the age of 30. And that’s probably when he’s going to be at his peak.

“When you start adding attributes like experience and things like that, I feel darts players are reaching their peak between 30 and 40. I really do.

“But I just don’t see him going the distance, because it’s the motivational side of things.

“When you get set for life, when he’s going to have a young family, do I really want to go and have to practise?

“Do I really want to go to the European Tour? Do I really want to go to a Players Championship?

“I think he’d always miss the TV tournaments, but I just don’t see him winning 16 world titles."

He continued: “We’ll be talking about Luke Littler for the rest of our lives in the same breath as Eric Bristow, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen, this generational talent, this 16-year-old who reached the final.

“I think he’s maturing beautifully. I love his interviews.

“I watched an interview when he reached the final, when he was 16, and I think all he said was: ‘I can’t quite believe this is happening.’

“So he’s maturing nicely, but longevity? I don’t think so.”

Durrant added that Littler would be "an incredible loss" for the sport and "almost irreplaceable" given his status in the game.

Luke Littler's response to shock World Grand Prix of Darts exit

With his packed schedule, Littler has been absent from a number of tournaments - namely European tour and World Series events as well as some Players Championship events.

He's also threatened to boycott Netherlands as well as Germany because of the treatment he has received from the crowd.

He did participate in the World Grand Prix of Darts but suffered a shock first round elimination at the hands of Luke Woodhouse, who beat him 2-1 in the opening round in Leicester.

The result disappointed Luke Humphries, who was hoping to beat the world No.1 in the final.

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Just a week on from the loss and Littler will take part in the World Youth Championship - a tournament he won back in 2023.

'The Nuke' is still eligible as he is 19 and will look to take the £15,000 prize in Wigan.