DARTING Legend Bobby George has said 16-year-old prodigy Luke Littler from Warrington can win the PDC World Darts Championship.
Speaking on GB News, he said: “The way he played against Rob Cross, he played excellent. He had about 106 average which is a very, very good standard.
“He was unbelievable. He played absolutely marvellous to reach the final.
“So he can win.
“I think he looks a bit older than 16 but he’ been playing since he had a nappy on, he reckons. So he practices the whole time and his whole life has been darts.
“So he’s got his dream but he didn’t just walk in to the PDC World Darts, he was actually the junior world champion.
“He’s a world champion – he’s played at the World Darts Association, he’s played a lot of darts for a young man who is only 16.
“And he’s in the final and he deserves to be in the final because he’s good.
“One thing he’s got to do is he’s got to keep his feet on the ground. He can’t listen to people saying ‘do this, why don’t you do that?’ All he’s got to do is play the game. Just play as he’s been playing.
“If he wins he gets the bees n’ honey, right – £500,000 which is a good piece of money. But he’s got to keep his feet on the ground to make sure he doesn’t get too big headed and cocky and then gets knocked off the perch.
“You’ve got to be very careful as a young man with that sort of money.”
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Meanwhile, former BDO World Champion Steve Beaton says “it’s a dream come true” for the Warrington teenager and predicted a “tremendous fight” during the world final tonight.
Steve Beaton told GB News: “For the youngsters watching this now, it’s so unbelievable. It’s a dream come true for Luke, to get to the final now.
“But fair play to him, he qualified through his own steam, he did well in the development tour, it’s all on merit and it’s going to be an interesting final tonight. I’m looking forward to it.”
In a discussion with Andrew Pierce and Bev Turner, he continued: “He’s got great support behind him. His family’s been brilliant and that’s what you need as a youngster in any sport.
“You need your backing from your family, but he found the talent when he was younger and it’s just a matter of practising and developing that talent and he’s proved that.
“It’s still unbelievable. He’s only 16 and he’s got to the point now where he can be number one in the world.”
“This final is going to be really, really good. I think we’re in for a tremendous fight.”
