‘Take a break’ – Luke Littler offered crucial advice by former World Champion
Former world darts champion Dennis Priestley has urged Luke Littler to take a break from darts to avoid burn out. Littler has had a packed out schedule in 2025 since landing his first world title at Alexandra Palace in January. Littler crowned a third Premier League Darts win of the season in CardiffGetty It followed a relentless first 12 months on the circuit since announcing himself to darts at the 2024 World Championship. Littler is in the midst of defending his Premier League Darts title – a gruelling 16-week tournament staged across the UK, Germany and the Netherlands, culminating in the playoffs in London in May. Prior to this year’s Premier League, Littler has already triumphed at the UK Open while adding the Dutch Darts Masters to his growing list of accolades. However the 18-year-old is at risk of burnout according to Priestley who scooped his one world title in 1994. “Luke Littler says he didn’t pick up his darts for a week, but he probably doesn’t have the time to practise,” Priestley told OLBG. “They have such a full schedule with midweek and weekend competitions usually, he has been racing around hotels in different cities and he probably doesn’t have the time. “He is playing so often that might mean he doesn’t need to practise, but he does need to be careful he doesn’t burn out. Maybe at some point he will need to take a break.” Despite that, Priestley believes Littler will knock Luke Humphries off his perch at some point this year and claim the world No.1 spot. “You can say that Luke Littler is the best player in history never to have been world number one – but that is certain to happen this year,” he added. “The money list being over two years is what is stopping him at the moment, he’d be top if it was one year. That’s the only reason he isn’t top and it’s now only a matter of time.” GettyPriestley believes that Luke Humphries’ time as world No.1 is running out[/caption] Littler has previously explained that he has implemented short breaks from darts in the lead up to his weekly Premier League Darts commitments. After claiming another win in Cardiff last week, the teenager said: “I’ve been playing very well – but I must admit I’ve not picked up a dart since last Thursday. “You have got to have rests every now and then, so I just took a week out to chill, but I’m enjoying my performances at the moment.” He continued: “It’s good to be standing here with another trophy and with 21 points on the board already. I just want to get to the O2 (play-off finals) as quickly as possible and I’ve put myself in a really good position.” There are further demands for Littler this week as Premier League Darts heads to Newcastle for week eight. Littler faces bottom-of-the-table Stephen Bunting in the quarter-final as he looks to extend his six-point advantage at the top. Luke Littler has endured a busy schedule since the 2024 World ChampionshipsGetty Elsewhere, Gerwyn Price takes on Rob Cross, second-placed Luke Humphries faces off against Chris Dobey while Michael van Gerwen plays Nathan Aspinall.
Former world darts champion Dennis Priestley has urged Luke Littler to take a break from darts to avoid burn out.
Littler has had a packed out schedule in 2025 since landing his first world title at Alexandra Palace in January.
It followed a relentless first 12 months on the circuit since announcing himself to darts at the 2024 World Championship.
Littler is in the midst of defending his Premier League Darts title – a gruelling 16-week tournament staged across the UK, Germany and the Netherlands, culminating in the playoffs in London in May.
Prior to this year’s Premier League, Littler has already triumphed at the UK Open while adding the Dutch Darts Masters to his growing list of accolades.
However the 18-year-old is at risk of burnout according to Priestley who scooped his one world title in 1994.
“Luke Littler says he didn’t pick up his darts for a week, but he probably doesn’t have the time to practise,” Priestley told OLBG.
“They have such a full schedule with midweek and weekend competitions usually, he has been racing around hotels in different cities and he probably doesn’t have the time.
“He is playing so often that might mean he doesn’t need to practise, but he does need to be careful he doesn’t burn out. Maybe at some point he will need to take a break.”
Despite that, Priestley believes Littler will knock Luke Humphries off his perch at some point this year and claim the world No.1 spot.
“You can say that Luke Littler is the best player in history never to have been world number one – but that is certain to happen this year,” he added.
“The money list being over two years is what is stopping him at the moment, he’d be top if it was one year. That’s the only reason he isn’t top and it’s now only a matter of time.”
Littler has previously explained that he has implemented short breaks from darts in the lead up to his weekly Premier League Darts commitments.
After claiming another win in Cardiff last week, the teenager said: “I’ve been playing very well – but I must admit I’ve not picked up a dart since last Thursday.
“You have got to have rests every now and then, so I just took a week out to chill, but I’m enjoying my performances at the moment.”
He continued: “It’s good to be standing here with another trophy and with 21 points on the board already. I just want to get to the O2 (play-off finals) as quickly as possible and I’ve put myself in a really good position.”
There are further demands for Littler this week as Premier League Darts heads to Newcastle for week eight.
Littler faces bottom-of-the-table Stephen Bunting in the quarter-final as he looks to extend his six-point advantage at the top.
Elsewhere, Gerwyn Price takes on Rob Cross, second-placed Luke Humphries faces off against Chris Dobey while Michael van Gerwen plays Nathan Aspinall.
