One of the biggest stories of this year's World Darts Championship has been the rise of 16-year-old sensation Luke Littler.
The youngster has taken Ally Pally by storm this festive period, progressing to the fourth round where he will face off with Raymond van Barneveld on Saturday evening.
Taking on 2007 world champion van Barneveld will be the biggest challenge yet of the World Championship for Littler, but he has seemed unfazed by the immense attention on his shoulders throughout the event thus far.
However, it has not all been plain sailing for the Cheshire man.
Earlier this week, Littler drew attention when he was photographed in the Sun holding up a copy of the newspaper.
The move drew criticism from many, particularly in Liverpool, due to the Sun's infamous misrepresentation of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster of 1989.
Luke Littler would take to social media on Friday evening to apologise for the photograph, saying that the immense media attention at his door was new to him and that he did not endorse the views of the Sun newspaper.
It is extraordinary that, amid all of the media frenzy, Littler is still only 16 - and one ex-world champion has warned that similar backlashes in future could threaten the youngster's wellbeing.
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World Darts Championship: Gary Anderson slates media for attention on Luke Littler
Scotsman Gary Anderson spoke to the media ahead of the weekend's action at Alexandra Palace, and issued a warning over the furore surrounding Luke Littler.
"Let the boy play darts. If it all goes wrong, give yourselves a pat on the back."
Gary Anderson has strong words for the media about their attention on Luke Littler and compares
it to Josh Rock. pic.twitter.com/NutvRZKOtS— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) December 29, 2023
2015 and 2016 world champion Anderson went in on the media for how they approach young talents in darts.
Anderson went on to reference young Northern Irishman Josh Rock as an example of a young talent who was put under too much scrutiny by the media. He said that he feared the media sending Luke Littler down a similar path:
With another youngster called Josh Rock...all yous press and everything else have absolutely destroyed.
If it ever goes tits up with Luke, give yourselves a pat on the back, because that's the way it's going. Let the boy play darts.
I've been downstairs today, there's cameras, Zoom calls...let the boy play darts. He's had a great tournament, he's done well. What happens if it all goes Pete Tong now?
You boys have ruined that haven't yous? Let the boy play darts. He's 16, playing well - just like Josh Rock...fantastic player - but you've knocked him back about two or three years.
In a follow up question, Anderson was asked how the media were meant to approach covering Littler if he continued to impress at the World Championship - to which the Scottish player had an apt (and ever-so-slightly tongue-in-cheek) response:
Keep going. Keep covering that boy, miced up and sitting in interviews when he should be at the practice board. Carry on!
We've seen it a thousand times. Every year, we see a boy come through the ranks. Honestly, you have not got a clue how many young darts players we see coming through the system thinking, 'oh, this is gonna be the next big thing.;
And then the pressure's on them, it all goes Pete Tong.
Wise words from Anderson, who is clearly looking out for a young talent who could so easily be swallowed up by the frenzy around him. One can only hope that the team surrounding Luke Littler is strong in protecting him as he makes his way through the ranks.
Both Anderson and Littler are in action in separate round four matches on Saturday evening. In the first game of the evening session, Anderson faces Fermanagh man Brendan Dolan, before Littler's mouthwatering clash with Raymond van Barneveld in the second game of the evening session.
SEE ALSO: 'Brendan Dolan Took Every Chance I Gave Him': Gerwyn Price 'Gutted' After Huge Upset
