Former World Darts Champion Keith Deller shares his thoughts on rising star Luke Littler and why he might not become the greatest player ever. Deller, famously known as the Milky Bar Kid for his post-1983 world title milk celebration, expressed doubts about Littler’s long-term presence in the sport.
Speaking at the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship to growth partner Champions (UK) plc, Deller praised Littler’s talent but questioned his longevity: “Luke’s a brilliant player. But I don’t think he will be around long enough to be the best. He’s going to earn so much money that he might say in five years, ‘I’ve got £15m, and I’m not that bothered.’”
Deller’s advice to the young sensation from Warrington is straightforward: “My only concern for him is that he has got to make sure he has good people around him. When you start with millions in the bank, you can almost have too much money. So I hope he gets looked after. My advice to Luke would be to just ‘be sensible.’ If he does, and he’s well looked after, he will have a fantastic life and a life that most people can only dream of.”
Reflecting on the current state of the game, Deller noted why it’s easier for today’s players to achieve the elusive nine-darter: “The treble 20 is now a fifth bigger than it was when we played.
Now the wires go right into the board, so it is a fifth bigger. If they were playing on our boards, there wouldn’t be anywhere near as many nine darters because they’d hit wires, and it’s a smaller target.”
At 64, Deller was asked if he wished he were playing in the current golden era of darts, where arenas and VIP sections are packed: “Darts is massive now, yes. Arenas are sold out. VIPs are already sold out. But I have absolutely no regrets. When I won the world title, the average wage was £60 a week.
I bought a house in London with a swimming pool. Since then, I’ve traveled the world. I’ve got a fantastic life. Plus, I’m still playing well. I am still up there playing really good darts, and long may that continue.”
While Phil Taylor remains the most decorated darts player, with 214 professional tournament wins, including 85 majors and 16 world championships, the landscape of the sport has undoubtedly changed. As Deller’s insights suggest, the future holds both opportunities and challenges for talents like Luke Littler.
