Featured Image Credit: Getty / Professional Darts Corporation
Topics: Darts, Luke Littler
Ryan Smart
Luke Littler has named which darts rival is the most 'must-watch' player on the PDC tour.
'The Nuke' burst on to the professional scene at the 2024 World Championship, with the then 16-year-old reaching the final before losing 7-4 to world number one Luke Humphries.
His run earned him a spot in the top 32 for the beginning of the 2024 season, and Littler followed up his success by winning the season-opening Bahrain Darts Masters in January.
Advert
Earlier in March, he beat Rob Cross to win the Belgian Darts Open for his first European Tour crown, and won his first night of Premier League action with a 6-4 win over Nathan Aspinall in Belfast on Thursday.
All that means that, despite only being on the PDC tour for three months, the 17-year-old has already gained plenty of experience of going toe-to-toe with some of the sport's top stars.
And during a guest appearance on the 'Happy Hour' podcast, Littler was asked which one of his rivals is the most 'must-watch' player in the PDC currently.
Advert
The 17-year-old had one answer - 2023 world champion Michael Smith.
He elaborated: "He's just... me and Luke [Humphries] have said he's got the smoothest throw.
"As soon as he lets it go they're just, 'Boom, boom'. They're in."
'Bully Boy', who hit a famous nine-darter on his way to beating Michael van Gerwen in the final at Alexandra Palace last year, was long seen as the best player on the PDC circuit to have not won a major title.
Advert
But after thrashing Nathan Aspinall 16-5 in the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts final, Smith added more consistency to his game in the major events.
He is now ranked at world number three, having held the number one ranking between his 2023 World Championship success and his run to the fourth round in the most recent event.
Littler and Smith will face each other on night 12 of this season's Premier League, which takes place on April 18 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Advert
They have both won one night this season, with Littler in second place in the eight-player table on 18 points.
Smith is in fifth on 13 points - three behind fourth-placed Rob Cross, who occupies the last Grand Final qualification spot.