Nathan Aspinall has revealed Luke Littler is the victim of bitter jealousy inside darts.
But the 17-year-old superstar brushes it aside and instead says he’s thrilled that rivals can jump on his big-time bandwagon. Littler has changed the game. In his first year, he won 10 titles, banked £1 million in prize money and rocketed the sport’s profile bringing riches to the game.
That has made the teenager the centre of attention with both media and public. At the same time, Aspinall says it has also drawn envious glances. Delighted colleagues such as Scott Williams have openly spoken about loving the Littler’s effect with the sponsorship and opportunity which the kid’s stardom is providing. Others, however, don’t appear to share that view as his pal gave a frank behind-the-scenes insight. Aspinall, who is in the last eight of the PDC World Championship, revealed: “He hasn’t got many mates on the tour because a lot of people are jealous of him. I am not.
“I like him. He’s a nice kid. I appreciate what he has done for the game, for himself and his family. Listen, we are all in his debt for what he has done in the game.”
Littler was asked straight out if he was aware of that jealousy and said: “I don’t know. I’d probably say some players do show it, mainly on the Pro Tour. It’s definitely not to my face. Not as soon as I walk in, but whenever I’m practising I can just feel that tension. And I just laugh at it.
“But I’ve seen Scott Williams’s interview, he’s getting sponsorship opportunities, people asking him because of myself. So it’s good to see what I’ve done, especially for the players and whatever sponsors they can get.”
Aspinall will stand by his buddy at all times, even if he wants to hammer him and book and Ally Pally semi-final spot. He said: “I text him after the game when he won, he broke down, if he wanted to speak to me.
“I see myself as maybe an older brother in the darts world. We don’t speak much outside of darts, but, when it comes to darts, I do try to help him. He’s a nice kid. I think he’s a fantastic darts player. How he has handled himself at 17 with the media. I don’t think many men, full-grown adults could do what he has done. I tip my hat to the guy.
“I am really good mates with Luke. Me, Dobey and Luke might have a chuck together. We have an Air bnb, they might come to mine as I am the only one with a board. Give me a go at home. Let me have a go at him.
“He hit a nine-darter against me in Bahrain. This is the problem. He started off playing rubbish against me. We gave each other too much respect. The last few times I played him, he got the record average on the EuroTour when I played him. I am still going to smash him on New Year’s Day!“
Littler has no issues with facing a mate and said: “We’ll just keep ourselves to ourselves. He’ll celebrate New Year’s with his family and his two girls and I’ll celebrate with mum and dad. You’ve just got to go into every game how you would either way, if you’re playing your best mate or you’re playing someone you really dislike.”
Littler can make history being the youngster-ever title winner, but Aspinall has his own motivations as he recovers from a horrendous spell of injuries and self doubt. He said: “It’ll be nice to be the underdog. I have got an opportunity to make the semi-finals of the Worlds for the first time in five years. Every game I have got better. Hopefully the next game, the best of nine sets, that will be decent.
“No-one’s expecting me to win. I will enjoy the moment. I think we both will. No pressure. Underdog. I love being the underdog. This is the most pressurised tournament in the history of darts and that’s why you have not seen high-number performances. I do like a scrap.
“Everyone wants to be part of the darts at the moment, sponsorship. We are all here to make decent money. I think you will see some good performances now. All past New Year, I think you will see the best of us now.”
If he does grab glory, Aspinall may have one of biggest New Year parties as he smiled: “My best ever? I got beaten by Michael van Gerwen or Smithy in a game. We drove back on New Year’s Eve. We weren’t going out, but we did.
“Me and my partner got there late on, I walked in and the DJ recognised me. That is when I first changed to Mr Brightside. He put it on and the place erupted. People that know me know I love a drink, going out, having fun. Me and my partner, I don’t have many mates outside of darts anymore.
“The last few years we have had parties at my house. God knows what my mates will do this year. If I am on last, I may have a couple of beevies, it won’t be mad.”