Paul Nicholson: "If Luke Littler wins the title, he has to be in the Premier League"

Luke Littler has become the sensation of the World Darts Championship. The 16-year-old Englishman has raced through to the semifinals on his debut at the Alexandra Palace.

Littler was too strong for Brendan Dolan in the quarterfinals on New Year's Day, triumphing 5-1 in convincing fashion. Rob Cross awaits him in the semi-finals. The big question on everyone's lips is, has Littler's World Darts Championship heroics done enough to secure him a spot in the Premier League Darts lineup for 2024?

If he wins the title, Paul Nicholson believes there'll be no chance to deny Littler a place. "A lot of people are speculating backstage as to whether it's possible," he tells Sporting Life. "If Littler is allowed in this tournament (World Championship ed.), he can be in the Premier League, I don't see a problem with that."

"The media bombshell around him would obviously heighten if he's world champion and if he's in the Premier League as well," the Asset continues. "I go back to words said in 2017 when Rob Cross beat Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals and Phil Taylor beat Jamie Lewis. Someone said, Taylor is retiring, what if the world champion is not in the Premier League? If Littler is not allowed in the Premier League you may have that situation. If Littler wins the title, and it is possible, he has to be in the Premier League."

But what if he doesn't become world champion? "If he makes the final, that's an awful lot of money to start your professional career in February. Take January off, get yourself rested after what's been an incredibly tiring year for him, go on holiday, spend some time with your family, do what you want and come back fresh in February," is Nicholson's advice.