Luke Littler might not stick around long enough to become greatest ever player, claims former darts world champion

Former World Darts Champion Keith Deller has revealed why he doesn’t believe Luke Littler will go on to become the game’s greatest player.

Deller – nicknamed the Milky Bar Kid – says the teenage sensation is unlikely to stick around long enough to win the number of titles required to enter the history books as the best-ever.

Speaking last week at the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship to growth partner Champions (UK) plc, he said: “Luke’s a brilliant player. But I don’t think he will be around long enough to be the best. He’s going to earn so much money that he might say in five years’ time I’ve got £15m and I’m not that bothered.”

Offering his advice to the teenager from Warrington, Deller continued: “My only concern for him is that he has got to make sure he has good people around him. When you start with millions in the bank you can almost have too much money . So I hope he gets looked after. My advice would to Luke would be  to just‘ be sensible’. If he does, and he’s well looked after, he will have a fantastic life and a life that most people can only dream of.”

Meanwhile Deller, who earned his nickname after drinking milk following his 1983 world title win, also explained why it’s easier for the current crop of players to hit nine-darters.

He said: “The treble twenty is now a fifth bigger than it was when we played. Now the wires go right into the board so it is a fifth bigger. If they were playing on our boards there wouldn’t be anywhere near as many nine darters because they’d hit wires and it’s a smaller target.”

Asked if he wished he’d come along now as a darts-player as it would see him benefit from what is a golden-era for the game, he added: “Darts is massive now, yes. Arenas are sold out. VIPs are already sold out.

“But I’ve absolutely no regrets. When I won the world title, the average wage was £60 a week.  I bought a house in London with a swimming pool. Since then I’ve travelled the world. I’ve got a fantastic life and I’m still playing shows. Plus, I’m still playing well. I am still up there playing really good darts, and long may that continue!”