"The trouble is when you are dealing with geniuses, you set the bar ridiculously high" - Barry Hearn defends Luke Littler after recent criticism

Former PDC president does not think it is entirely fair for Luke Littler to have critical comments directed at him after his 10-6 defeat to Michael van Gerwen in the first round of the 2024 World Matchplay in Blackpool last week.

Wayne Mardle, among others, expressed criticism, stating that he found Littler to appear ''nonchalant". Hearn believes that every darter is allowed to have an off day. Although the question is whether that was even the case, since Littler recorded an average of 101 in a high quality contest.

"The trouble is when you are dealing with geniuses, which they both are, you set the bar ridiculously high,'' Hearn said in conversation with talkSPORT.com. "They can both do magical things, but I have sat down with him once and I really like Luke.''

"He's a very sensible man, and has a good team around him giving him good advice. He's 17-years-old, and he's probably earned a million since January. There is only one Luke Littler per million of darts players, one Michael Van Gerwen and one Luke Humphries,'' Hearn continues. "They will all have days when they are slightly below par. You can't criticise geniuses, it is wrong. I have to allow him his own freedom, every genius is impossible to handle because they are so original. Luke Littler gets beat 10-6, a couple of moments it could have been the other way around."

James Wade also gave his opinion on Littler during the World Matchplay. 'The Machine' assured the press that Littler is going to have a drop off at some point, but at the same time Wade stated that Littler doesn't really need to play darts for the money already.

"I heard Glen Durrant say he’ll [Luke Littler] either dominate for only two years or over 10. I’m not sure which one it’ll be, but I do actually agree with that. Let's be honest, Luke's probably earned more money than most dart players, if not all dart players, in a year of his existence," said Wade. "So, he doesn’t need to play darts now. He's influential and financially viable and a great pull. But I'm interested in seeing what he's doing.He will have a downturn and that's a hundred percent it'll happen. He [Luke Littler] will struggle, and he will find things hard and then we'll see what he's really about."