'It wouldn't be surprising' - Former darts star claims 'enormous talent' can beat Luke Littler in Netflix special

Former darts star Vincent van der Voort has singled out one competitor - Mitchell Lawrie - as more capable of beating Luke Littler than anyone else set to participate in the Netflix event.

Van der Voort referred to Lawrie, just 15 years of age and already a WDF World Championship finalist, as an “enormous talent” capable of beating Littler.

The Dutchman also admitted that it’s “no easy field… [but] Lawrie can definitely win a leg against him,” before his co-host, another Dutch darts player, singled out a “pest” competitor that he expects will get inside the Englishman’s head.

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Former darts star explains how ‘strange’ Mitchell Lawrie can ‘definitely beat’ Luke Littler

Van der Voort, speaking with Darts News, expressed his intrigue for the Netflix special, admitting “it’s quite risky… it could all be over after the first leg. But it’s exciting.”

Previously, expert analyst for the night, and gameshow host in his own right, Richard Osman revealed a secret back-up plan for the Netflix broadcast, should its 19-year-old centrepiece lose quickly.

In his round-up of competitors set to face the Englishman, he singled out Lawrie as a player who, if he beats Littler, “wouldn’t be a surprise.”

“The show is live, [so] if someone wins, it’s over straight away,” began the Dutchman, noting that Netflix’s broadcast is the first of its kind in that Littler losing will spell its immediate end.

“That’s quite risky, of course. It could all be over after the first leg. But it’s exciting. It’s the first time this has been done - we’ve never seen anything like it. So, it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.”

The Dutchman then praised the quality of Netflix’s line-up, describing it as “no easy field” and clarifying that many participants gunning for the £501,000 prize pot are “more experienced than the general public might expect.”

Van Der Voort described all of Littler’s rivals for the night as “pretty good players,” then singled out Laurie as an “enormous talent,” who is well-positioned to take home the Netflix payday.

Before continuing, the Dutchman weighed up the ethics of a teenager winning £501,000, then continued in his assessment of Lawrie and his chances versus Littler.

“I understand why [Netflix inviting a 15-year-old] seems strange. But I think Netflix is simply asking: ‘What will be most interesting for [the audience]?’”

The Dutchman continued: “Mitchell Lawrie can definitely win a leg against him. That wouldn’t be strange at all. He regularly averages over 100.

“Lawrie is the one we’ll be watching. If he wins a leg, it won’t even be a surprise. He's that good.”

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Darts player singles out ‘pest’ competitor he faced who could ‘get inside Luke Littler’s head’

Van der Voort’s co-host Damian Vlottes, a Dutch darts player himself, expressed his interest in seeing Zac Griffiths take on the 19-year-old, describing him as “a bit of a pest.”

Vlottes took on the amateur on the Development Tour, and recalled the experience. “He’d score 140, I’d score 100, and then he’d say ‘Well done, mate.’ It was always a condescending little comment.”

Griffiths, who hopes to win £501,000 for his 20-month-old daughter, also drank out of Vlottes’ water between throws.

“That can put me off, and it worked,” confessed the Dutchman. “He could perhaps get inside Littler’s head. So, keep an eye on Littler’s water, in case Griffiths starts drinking from it.”

The Hereford dad previously almost beat Littler on the Development Tour, where he faced off against Vlottes, in 2023, losing 4-2 after a mid-game tie at 2-2.

“Obviously, that was a different Luke at the time, but it was also a different me, as well,” claimed Griffiths, talking to the BBC.

“I back myself, like I’m sure the other 23 contestants do.” Littler has already made clear what he’ll do with the £501,000 prize pot, and so has Griffiths, who wants to “set up a life for my daughter.”

“That’s the main goal, and to be able to do that after Friday would be a massive achievement. [I’d love] to be able to spend the rest of my life, and give back to [my loved ones] - all the people who have shaped me to get to this point.”

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