Leading darts company Winmau might have snapped up the 'next Luke Littler', but Vincent van der Voort has sent a word of warning.
The emergence of Luke Littler over the last 12 months or so has seen darts become one of the biggest growing sports in the world.
Having reached the World Darts Championship final in 2024 aged just 16, Littler became a global icon.
And then, fast-forward a year, and the Nuke went on to clinch the title - beating Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final.
Luke Littler became the youngest world champion of darts of all time at the age of 17
Reuters
Now firmly established as one of the best players in the world, regularly beating former world champions, Littler's success started out on the Professional Darts Corporation Development Tour.
The PDC invest heavily in the youngster's circuit, which has also seen players such as Luke Humphries, Dimitri van den Bergh and Callan Rydz qualify from in recent years.
It is, then, no surprise to see darts companies scouting development events to unearth the 'next Littler'.
And Winmau might have found him - a Dutch wonderkid aged just 13 - with darts legend Van der Voort playing a major role.
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The Dutch Destroyer, speaking to GB News, as Modus Super Series launched its 24/7 darts channel on Pluto TV, revealed how he signed the youngster for Winmau - but insisted it is too early to make comparison to Littler.
Van der Voort said: "I am signing someone for Winmau, he is 13 years old.
"Massive player but it is unfair to compare him to Luke Littler but he is an amazing player.
"I am expecting a lot from him but he is still a kid."
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Vincent van der Voort was speaking exclusively to GB News
Getty Images/Darren Gerrish for Pluto TV
There is no denying that Littler might have transformed the sport of darts, helping turn it into a lucrative opportunity for players.
The prize money on offer is more than it has ever been and the financial side of the game might further incentivise youngsters to take an interest.
Van der Voort added: "The top players are getting younger and younger. I think in the next five to 10 years, you are going to get a lot of young players coming through.
"The game is evolving, it was an old man's sport. Now it's a young man's sport!
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Luke Littler is already one of the best players in the world
PA
"You can see that the development tour is getting younger and younger and they can make good money at a young age.
"I was 15, a European champion at youth level, but everyone said to me, 'Stay in school, you won't make any money!' And now, everybody says make as much money as you can."
Starting this year, the MODUS Super Series Darts debuted exclusively on Pluto TV. The new channel “MODUS Super Series Darts” features around the clock darts programming, including Super Series Tournaments, 104 Live Matches every week, in-depth features and documentaries that explore the journeys and stories of darts personalities, and more. The channel promises to be the ultimate destination for darts enthusiasts and newcomers alike, celebrating the sport in all its glory.
