Eddie Hearn has admitted that he's 'fascinated' by how Luke Littler has been able to stay grounded throughout his darts career as the 18-year-old prepares for Thursday night's Premier League action.
The teenager has soared into the spotlight over the past 12 months, becoming a household name along the way.
Littler has dazzled at the oche, winning the Premier League at the first time of asking in 2024 before securing glory in the World Darts Championship at the start of the year.
Hearn, speaking to Betfred, has admitted he's been blown away by the darts prodigy.
Darts news: Luke Littler has become a household name with his performances over the past year
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And he's also hailed the teenager for staying grounded, despite his new found fame.
"For him, it’s all about the darts," said the PDC chairman.
"He’s making a fortune and he will continue to make more and more money, especially when the prize money, inevitably, continues to go up for the PDC.
"I just find it fascinating. I watched him in the Premier League the other night and he’s also a showman.
"I just think he’s perfect in every way and the reason why he’s perfect is because he lives to compete and he lives to play and everything else just follows on.
"As long as you can stay focused on that and you’re as good as he is, everything else comes with it.
“I don’t know Luke too well. We’ve exchanged messages, but the most fascinating thing about Luke is how he’s managed to keep his head, keep performing at the highest level and do the right things.
"Plonkers can start to associate themselves, or start becoming involved, in athlete’s circles, but he’s got a really good group of people around him, which is so important for any big name.
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Darts news: Eddie Hearn finds it 'fascinating' that Luke Littler has managed to stay grounded
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"He’s obviously got a very close relationship with his dad and the rest of his family and they’ve done a brilliant job to nurture him into the competitor that he is today.”
Hearn also expressed a belief that Littler should have won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award back in December.
The darts star missed out, with Keely Hodginkson securing the gong after her impressive performances at the Paris Olympics.
Hearn is adamant that Littler was robbed, however.
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“I think right now, he’s one of the most recognisable individuals in Britain, forget sport," he continued.
"He’s an absolute superstar and he came second in BBC’s Sports Personality of the year, which he should have won.
“In a world that can be quite miserable, in a country that can be a bit s**t sometimes, with poxy weather and everything, the darts just sorts everything.
"You walk around and everybody’s happy. It’s just so unique as a sport.”
Darts news: Luke Littler is currently preparing for night three of the Premier League
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Littler will return to action in the Premier League on Thursday in Dublin.
He struggled in Belfast, losing to Michael van Gerwen, but bounced back to secure victory in Glasgow - with Luke Humphries beaten in the final last week.
