Wayne Mardle has been left in awe of Luke Littler's talent after the teenager won a Premier League night for the first time.
Former darts star Mardle claims the youngster has no 'ceiling' and has likened him to the three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen.
Littler silenced some of his doubters on Thursday when he won a Premier League night at the ninth time of asking in Belfast.
He beat stablemate Nathan Aspinall in just his second nightly final in the tournament to move up to second place in the table.
Luke Littler left Wayne Mardle in awe with his performance in the Premier League
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Littler confirmed after the final that he had made a conscious change to his throwing style as well as putting in more practice at the oche.
Mardle says the 17-year-old's approach 'might be the way forward' for many of his rivals to copy.
The former five-time World Championship semi-finalist loves watching Littler play and is amazed at his level at such a young age.
Mardle said on Sky Sports: "He does what he likes. I think this might be the way forward for many players. Don't worry about it and get on with it.
"It's just great to watch. He so reminds me of Michael [Van Gerwen]. I don't see a ceiling in his game, I just think that he can play as well as he likes sometimes.
"Look at the 114 average he had against MVG a few weeks ago, I just see that he can do these amazing things with a set of 22g tungsten.
"It's just madness what he can do at such a ripe old age of 17. I've never seen anyone be like Michael van Gerwen.
"Probably the closest anyone came, or maybe even better, was Eric Bristow at 17. Not bad names to be connected with."
Littler beat reigning world champion and world No 1 Luke Humphries in the first quarter-final of the night on Thursday.
The match went to a decider which the young sensation won 6-5 to set up a match with Van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen has struggled in recent weeks and Littler comfortably got the better of him with an impressive display.
The 6-3 win saw Littler drawn against Aspinall and he came back from 3-1 down to beat his fellow Manchester star.
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Wayne Mardle insists Luke Littler has no ceiling after his Premier League win
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Littler wowed the crowd with a bull, 25, bull finish in the final.
He admits it may have been a turning point in the match, telling reporters: "Maybe you can say that.
"But at 3-1 down I was like I'd won the first leg and then lost three so I was just like 'Switch on and try and get over the line'.
"If I hit a big finish, as soon as the first dart goes in whatever trouble, I always say to myself 'The next one's going in because the lie's good' and it will float in and try and hit the double.
Luke Littler has moved up to second place in the Premier League table
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"But with the 125 I tried going high into the 25, which I did, and then straight down to the bull.
"Maybe it did [rattle Aspinall] but he didn't show anything. He gave me another fist bump as he did before."
Littler will aim to back up his win with another strong performance at his home venue in Manchester next week.
