‘He’s not a baby anymore’ – Michael van Gerwen brutally slams Luke Littler on eve of Premier League battle
Michael van Gerwen called for darts officials to stop treating Luke Littler ‘as a baby’ after the teenager was late to media duties. Littler, Van Gerwen and their six rivals arrived in Belfast for the first night of Premier League Darts on Thursday. Littler’s tardiness in Belfast left a sour taste in Van Gerwen’s mouthGetty Coincidentally, the pair will face off on Thursday night in a rematch of the World Darts Championship final. Littler crushed Van Gerwen 7-3 to take home his first world title in just his second time competing in darts’ showpiece event. However, the teenager – who recently celebrated his 18th birthday – irked the Dutchman due to his poor timekeeping. Van Gerwen was asked about his thoughts on Littler being a late rival, only for the three-time world champion to respond in brutal fashion. “45 minutes late, you mean,” Van Gerwen said. “They need to stop treating him as a baby, yeah? He’s not a baby any more. He’s 18 years old now. “It happens. He has to learn, but he needs to learn the hard way. It’s a professional sport so you have to be responsible for your actions as well, simple as that. “If he turns up late for an interview, I don’t really mind, by now seven other people are waiting for him. “That’s not really nice, is it?” Van Gerwen and Littler have already faced off since their meeting in the World Championship final as they played each other in the Dutch Masters. The Dutchman called on Littler to grow up and be a manGetty Once again it was Littler who took the spoils, as his 6-3 win was his fourth in a row over Van Gerwen. Alongside Littler, Luke Humphries will be a heavy favourite to take out the Premier League. The 2024 world champion goes into Thursday’s event on the back of winning the World Masters, beating Jonny Clayton 6-5 in the final. Despite Littler and Humphries’ wealth of success in recent years, Van Gerwen felt there needed to be more respect when the duo are compared to some of the greats of the sport. “Of course, whatever they do is great, it’s nice, but you can’t compare it with the [Gary] Andersons, the [Phil] Taylors, or me yet,” Van Gerwen said. “Of course, in ten years’ time, we have a different conversation probably, but not now. Van Gerwen has lost four on the bounce to LittlerGetty “Of course, whatever they do is phenomenal, good for darts in general. But I think it takes away the respect of the Phil Taylors and other guys, you know what I mean?” As Van Gerwen alluded, he may have to eventually change his tune when it comes to Littler and Humphries’ greatness. Perhaps that moment could come sooner should Littler retain his status as Premier League champion. The teenager took out the tournament last year after he beat Humphries 11-7 in the final where he managed to pull off a nine-darter. Premier League Darts - Night 1 Schedule Chris Dobey vs Gerwyn Price Stephen Bunting vs Rob Cross Luke Littler vs Michael van Gerwen Nathan Aspinall vs Luke Humphries
Michael van Gerwen called for darts officials to stop treating Luke Littler ‘as a baby’ after the teenager was late to media duties.
Littler, Van Gerwen and their six rivals arrived in Belfast for the first night of Premier League Darts on Thursday.
Coincidentally, the pair will face off on Thursday night in a rematch of the World Darts Championship final.
Littler crushed Van Gerwen 7-3 to take home his first world title in just his second time competing in darts’ showpiece event.
However, the teenager – who recently celebrated his 18th birthday – irked the Dutchman due to his poor timekeeping.
Van Gerwen was asked about his thoughts on Littler being a late rival, only for the three-time world champion to respond in brutal fashion.
“45 minutes late, you mean,” Van Gerwen said.
“They need to stop treating him as a baby, yeah? He’s not a baby any more. He’s 18 years old now.
“It happens. He has to learn, but he needs to learn the hard way. It’s a professional sport so you have to be responsible for your actions as well, simple as that.
“If he turns up late for an interview, I don’t really mind, by now seven other people are waiting for him.
“That’s not really nice, is it?”
Van Gerwen and Littler have already faced off since their meeting in the World Championship final as they played each other in the Dutch Masters.
Once again it was Littler who took the spoils, as his 6-3 win was his fourth in a row over Van Gerwen.
Alongside Littler, Luke Humphries will be a heavy favourite to take out the Premier League.
The 2024 world champion goes into Thursday’s event on the back of winning the World Masters, beating Jonny Clayton 6-5 in the final.
Despite Littler and Humphries’ wealth of success in recent years, Van Gerwen felt there needed to be more respect when the duo are compared to some of the greats of the sport.
“Of course, whatever they do is great, it’s nice, but you can’t compare it with the [Gary] Andersons, the [Phil] Taylors, or me yet,” Van Gerwen said.
“Of course, in ten years’ time, we have a different conversation probably, but not now.
“Of course, whatever they do is phenomenal, good for darts in general. But I think it takes away the respect of the Phil Taylors and other guys, you know what I mean?”
As Van Gerwen alluded, he may have to eventually change his tune when it comes to Littler and Humphries’ greatness.
Perhaps that moment could come sooner should Littler retain his status as Premier League champion.
The teenager took out the tournament last year after he beat Humphries 11-7 in the final where he managed to pull off a nine-darter.
Premier League Darts - Night 1 Schedule
Chris Dobey vs Gerwyn Price
Stephen Bunting vs Rob Cross
Luke Littler vs Michael van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall vs Luke Humphries
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