"It's a bit scandalous toward Luke Humphries" - Michael van Gerwen believes appreciation for World Champion is lacking

For years, Michael van Gerwen was the darter most written or talked about, but that role now lies with teen sensation Luke Littler, who was in the final of the World Darts Championship in early January.

However, Littler lost in the final to Luke Humphries. Despite the latter's status as world champion, Humphries is rarely in the spotlight, according to Van Gerwen.

''I actually think it's a bit scandalous toward Luke Humphries,'' Van Gerwen told VTM 2 about the much attention Littler is getting. ''That guy is the world champion, won all the major majors last year and nobody talks about him. Deep down, that hurts him,'' the three-time world champion states.

Van Gerwen thinks the attention on the 17-year-old Littler could be less. ''He's fantastic, but everyone puts so much pressure on him. Let him mature first. He's done well, but that's only two months, I've been doing it for 18 years. Of course he has everything to become a very big one, but give him a break, y'all. Qualifiers, Euro Tours, Pro Tours, a girlfriend, he has to learn to live with all that. Let him bump his nose and make mistakes, that's where he learns the most,'' Van Gerwen said.