“I’ll say Mitchell Lawrie” - Luke Littler names darts’ next top talent and calls for major Premier League change
PDCWednesday, 24 June 2026 at 10:00
Luke Littler has named Mitchell Lawrie as one of the next young talents to watch in darts, while also calling for the Premier League to be expanded.
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The world champion was speaking in a quick-fire Q&A with The Athletic, where he was asked who he thinks is the next top talent in darts. Littler picked out the Scottish youngster.
“There are honestly so many. I’ll say the Scottish boy, Mitchell Lawrie,” said Littler.
Lawrie reached the final of the WDF World Championship late last year and has been tipped as one of Scotland’s more promising names. Littler’s answer now places him back in the spotlight through one of the biggest figures in the sport.
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Littler names Taylor and Bunting
Littler also gave a direct answer when asked which past player he would have loved to face. “Phil Taylor,” he said.
Stephen Bunting featured in two of Littler’s answers. Asked who his closest friend in darts is, Littler replied: “I’d say Stephen Bunting. We’ve got a horse together.”
Bunting’s walkout song also came up when Littler was asked whether any song on the circuit annoys him.
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“It doesn’t annoy me, but it’s funny. Stephen Bunting’s ‘Titanium’. We all buzz off it,” Littler said.
Premier League expansion backed by Littler
Littler named Nathan Aspinall as the player he would choose to be stuck in a lift with, answering: “Nathan Aspinall. Why not?”
The Premier League also featured in two of his answers. Littler picked Manchester as the best crowd to play in front of, before backing a bigger field in the competition.
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Asked what one change he would make to the current Premier League format, Littler said: “Get another two players in. Make it 10.”
The Premier League Darts currently features eight players, meaning Littler’s preferred change would add two more names to darts’ biggest weekly roadshow.
For a player already central to the event’s pull, it was a short answer with a clear direction: more places, more pressure and more room for the next wave of darts talent.
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Kieran WoodDarts Journalist
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He contributes to DartsNews.com, where he covers professional darts through news, match reports, analysis, and live coverage across the PDC calendar and major tournaments.
A key part of his work is on-site reporting from leading events. Kieran has covered the PDC World Darts Championship in person, reporting daily from the venue and providing first-hand insight from the tournament. During his coverage, he has conducted interviews with leading players including Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price.
He is also one of the leading voices of the English-language Dartsnews Podcast, contributing regular analysis and discussion on developments across the professional darts circuit.
In his reporting, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles when new, verified information becomes available.
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- What a nice comment by Wade. Top bloke.BandB15-09-2026
- He wasn't "offered £501,000 to face Luke Littler". He was allowed to audition for the chance. That's not the same. Literally like saying I was offered a no.1 single, when actually I decided not to attend an open casting for the X factor.BandB13-09-2026
- I loved Jan and loved his walk on music "Explode" by Jordan & Baker. I think if he stuck around the BDO he definitely would have been World Champion, should have won in 2014, he never really showed any of his talent in the PDC. I remembered he worked in a bank or in finance and maybe that was his priority, he was also a fan and interested in magic. Definitely should have achieved much more in darts than he did. Wherever you are nowadays Jan, hope all is well and I was always a fan.richieburnettrocks11-09-2026
- Not much of a tournament really,is it? Now they've all pulled out,it's open for everyone. I'm sure if you bought tickets,you'd be disappointed. Doesn't that seem to bother the withdrawals? Not at all!!rick6710-09-2026
- Need to see her take part in the womens tour. She'll break the inernet.medinabello08-09-2026
- If he can be bothered? He won't play darts in Germany yet he'll go over and get an award!??rick6702-09-2026
- Why is this the main story? He chose not to compete in loads of tournaments,yes he's number 1 in the world,but he does have to turn up at tournaments! Play the next world championship in Dortmund and see if he turns up!!rick6727-08-2026
- This is exactly what I mean,littler survives the 1st round,I think you'll find a lot of other players did. Can you just report on the real sport,and not just 1 person. I like Luke,but this is getting boring now,as Kevin painter once said to Taylor!! The sport is about every player,not 1 who everyone seems to have put the sport on the map.,which he hasn't,he's just got in when the money is massive. Great as he is,it seems like what's the point in anyone trying,he's going to win everything,unless it's in Germany or Australia!!!rick6726-08-2026
- I mean look, Littler's picture is first,wattimena is second and he won! Level it up. I know littler is fantastic,but the sport was here before him,and will be when he's retired. Any player in the top 64/128 can beat each other,it's not big news. Poor Jermaine,wins it,and not even the headline!!rick6726-08-2026
- I appreciate that littler is a fantastic player,but the top 3 articles are about him. Before he'd thrown a dart in the tournament. Level it out a bit, Taylor and van gerwen soon got disliked as the media could only see them,and nobody else seemed to matterrick6725-08-2026
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