Joe Cullen has given his honest take on Luke Littler being selected for this year's Premier League after some suggested he "should have been in" over the teenage sensation.
Earlier this week, Littler was included in an eight-man list to take part in PDC's annual Premier League Darts tournament following his remarkable run to the World Championship final.
The 16-year-old will feature alongside Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Nathan Aspinall, Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross, Peter Wright and Luke Humphries, who beat Littler at the Ally Pally on January 3.
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“It’s unbelievable,” said Littler after the news was confirmed. “Obviously I got my first ranking money, £2,500 from the UK Open, and now I’ve just got myself £200,000 and I’m inside the top 32."
He added: "No more developmental tour, this is it. In the Premier League and comfortably in the top 32. It’s crazy to be here."
Littler's appearance in the line-up has been questioned, with some suggesting other top players, like Chris Dobey, Jonny Clayton and Joe Cullen, deserved a shot.
In fact, after receiving "plenty" of messages about the subject, Cullen decided to go public with his opinion on the matter.
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Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, the world number 12 wrote: "Had plenty of msgs about PL picks- some saying I should be in, some saying other players should be in…Personally think @OfficialPDC got it right this year!"
Cullen added: "Littler HAD to be in! The global attention his rise has attracted is huge for darts! And we as players will all benefit."
There is no doubting Littler's positive influence when it comes to attracting young people to the sport.
Paul Nicholson, a former PDC major winner and private coach, says the teenager has brought a new group of players to the oche.
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“I have never had as many parents contact me directly asking to coach their kid, because they want to be as good as Luke Littler,” he told The Guardian.
“It’s very much like young kids wanting to play golf, if you see as a parent they’ve got some talent you get them some guidance.
“Darts is now in a position where it can position itself alongside these sports because there’s opportunity. Luke has helped showcase that.
"When I was 11 or 12, I was stuck in my bedroom trying to emulate my heroes with nowhere to go. I’ve never felt so much of an impact as a coach now because of Luke Littler.”
Topics: Luke Littler, Darts
Jack Kenmare