Following a fairytale run at the World Darts Championship Luke Littler was handed a wildcard pick for the upcoming 2024 Premier League season – an honour of the highest order, especially for a 17-year-old embarking on his first full senior campaign. Although it may have seemed like a no-brainer to take up the offer fellow arrow man James Wade warns the teenage darts sensation that it may come at a ‘cost’.

Wade points to reigning world champion Luke Humphries as the best example. The 28-year-old was arguably the most controversial omission from the 2023 lineup and went on to record his finest year in the sport.

Wade claims this had a lot to do with him not being affected by the ‘stresses and strains’ of the Premier League. Writing in his Daily Star column, Wade suggested that Littler could have done with the year off to help hone his craft like Humphries did.

“In truth, that’s what probably should have happened to Luke Littler,” wrote the former Premier League darts champion.

“A huge tournament in the limelight should have been followed by a year of keeping his head down, picking up ranking points, learning about his game, and gradually becoming a force to be reckoned with.

‌”But Littler has already become the PDC’s biggest asset and they want to parade him around the country – and in the case of the World Series, the globe – while they have him. I will caveat by saying that he might revel in it, lap it up and finish top of the top four – but ultimately that will come at a cost further down the line.”

“The first major one will be his ability to qualify for events. It is all well and good being in exhibitions like the World Series and the Premier League – by the way, I would have bitten your hand off to be in them – but what he needs now is ranking points.

“‌It will be slightly strange if ends up unqualified for big-ranking events because of the stresses and strains of the Premier League. All that said, it will certainly be exciting to find out how it all pans out.”