Gerwyn Price reckons the days of old-school players working up through the ranks is over, with the game instead being dominated by younger players trained from a young age
Darts is not a “working man’s game” any more, a former world champion says.
Gerwyn Price believes the days of old-school players coming through the ranks to hit the top are over.
Instead, he says, the oche will be dominated by kids trained from a young age, like new sensation Luke “The Nuke” Littler, 18.
This week, darts fans watching Luke loved his “chill” reaction in one game.
But it wasn’t a strong week for Littler, who was knocked out of the Players Championship by a man whose two-year ban had just been overturned.
Welshman Price says we will see fewer stars like himself and Rob Cross, who was working as an electrician when he won the world title aged 27.
Price, who defeated current world champ Littler 6-3 in the Premier League final on Thursday, said: “All the young kids, they just come in.
“You will get the odd one or two maybe, but they’re just going to be bred from such a young age now that I don’t think anybody like myself, like the way I came into it.
“It’s going to be youngsters from a young age.”
The 40-year-old also reckons Littler will beat 16-time world champion Phil Taylor’s record, adding: “There are three or four players that can beat him but if not, he’ll win every tournament.”
It has been almost a year since The Nuke last triumphed over Price.
Asked whether his onstage persona helps him beat the youngster, Price told SportsBoom: “Ask him that. I’m not sure.
“But he’s a strong kid. He’s got a strong mind.”
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