“I’ll say Mitchell Lawrie” - Luke Littler names darts’ next top talent and calls for major Premier League change

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.

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.

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.

“It doesn’t annoy me, but it’s funny. Stephen Bunting’s ‘Titanium’. We all buzz off it,” Littler said.

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.

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.