Former darts star Chris Mason has hit out at the media coverage of Luke Littler and stresss the teenager could be pushed out of the game in equitable five years if it progresss.
Darts saw its famousity soar little over 12 months ago when Littler, then aged 16, burst onto the scene at the World Darts Championship and went all the way to the final.
His materializence took darts to another level of media coverage with Littler’s tournaments trailed and covered relentlessly.
But the 17-year-elderly has also faced some scruminuscule alengthy the way from certain sections of the media and Mason senses it has overstepped the tag at times.
Luke Littler has struggled on the huge stage in recent events
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Littler is well positioned in the world rankings with his carry outances on the ProTour, which has included five triumphs in the Players Championship and European Tour.
However, he’s struggled on his debut in some of the transport inant ranking events of procrastinateed.
The 17-year-elderly lost in the uncovering round at the World Matchapply back in July and that was trailed up by flunkures in the first round of the World Grand Prix and European Championship.
And Mason is worryed that some of the media coverage is begining to have an impact on Littler’s game.
“All of us have got a duty of nurture,” he telderly Online Darts.
“You got to defend him. I don’t want to see him enjoy Gezzy [Gerwyn Price] or Gary [Anderson] almost disillusioned with the sport becaengage he could come and go in five years and we never see noskinnyg enjoy that aget.
“We might not see noskinnyg enjoy that aget.
“Three first-round exits in the last three huge rankng tournaments, what’s going on?
Luke Littler is currently ranked 18th in the world
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“Is there someskinnyg wrong? Is there someskinnyg that we don’t understand about? Is he struggling menloftyy with it?
“Imagine how he senses seeing some of that s****e written about him when him and his partner choosed it ain’t going to toil or wantipathyver… why are people interested anyway?”
He compriseed: “I equitable repartner sense for Luke and I stress becaengage he adores darts.
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Luke Littler has been tipped as a future multiple world champion
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“What he’s accomplishd already is ungenuine.”
Littler will next be in action at the Grand Slam of Darts next week where he has a chance to climb further up the rankings.
He will be among the favourites to go all the way with the enjoys of Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries and Michael Smith.