"I can aim to be in the Premier League when I’m 16" - 10-year-old darting wonderkid Owen Bryceland dreams of emulating Luke Littler

The darting world was recently rocked by teen sensation Luke Littler. Now though, there already seems to be the next darting wonderkid knocking at the door. Just last week, 10-year-old Owen Bryceland made headlines with his record-breaking, highest-ever average of 104.86 on his way to winning a Foundation Tour event.

Bryceland even threw two 180s on his third birthday! "I first watched darts on TV when I was in my baby walker and I watched it constantly," Bryceland told The Sun. “That was when Gary Anderson was winning the world championship. He was my first hero. I’ve actually been playing since I was 18 months. I don’t remember that much though." 

"I started with a soft tip board and then my dad stuck a real board underneath his own," he continues. "I then got real darts for my second birthday. My mum and dad knew I was safe with them and I loved playing and have done ever since. Gary even watched me play at an exhibition when I was four."

Bryceland even got the chance to play alongside one of the sport's greats. "As I got a bit older I used to throw a bit closer to the board. Then I went to an exhibition in Newcastle with Michael van Gerwen two years ago," he recalls. “Michael insisted that I practice with him at full height and the right distance because he thought I was good enough. That’s when I went home and told my mum and dad I wanted to play in the JDC (Junior Darts Corporation). Michael was my inspiration and sat at my table. He was speaking to us all, he was really nice and good to me.”

As mentioned, Bryceland is already drawing comparisons to Littler. The recent World Darts Championship finalist even addressed him in a video, saying, among other things, that Bryceland can break his record of youngest Premier League player ever. “Luke has inspired me as well. I wanted him to win the world championship," Bryceland says warmly. "I got to meet Luke at the Scottish Open two years ago so I was so pleased to see him do so well, especially as he was also in the JDC for the last few years. I haven’t thought about it much but I can aim to be in the Premier League when I’m 16."

“I told my mum and dad from a young age that I was going to be a PDC player," he concludes. “I don’t practice for a certain amount of time. I come home from school and have a throw but I don’t put any pressure on myself. I’m a bit like Luke, I go on my phone and then play a bit and that’s it. I practice playing darts more than homework though. But I still work on my maths!”