Eddie Hearn has revealed the significant role he and his father, Barry Hearn, played in getting Luke Littler into the Premier League in his debut season as a pro.
The Premier League campaign features the top four players in the PDC Order of Merit with the other four reserved for wildcard selections.
Gerwyn Price (5th), Rob Cross (6th) and Peter Wright (8th) were three of the wildcard picks to compete in this year's Premier League campaign.
But Littler ended up taking the final spot to enter darts' most prestigious event.
Luke Littler was a late selection for the Premier League
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Some were critical of the decision, who felt Littler needed to be protected in his first season as a professional.
Playing in the Premier League means a hectic schedule with a mini tournament every Thursday night for 16 consecutive weeks along with all the other events such as World Series of Darts, Players Championship events and the European Tour among others.
That all played on the mind of the PDC board, Hearn has revealed, during Littler's run to the final of the World Championship.
The British sports promoter has revealed a final decision was made before Littler faced Luke Humphries in the Alexandra Palace final.
Hearn suggested the PDC were leaning towards not picking Littler for the Premier League before he and his dad pushed for the teenager's selection.
"During that period, the PDC board make their final selection about the Premier League, which is our weekly road show around the UK and now Europe as well," Hearn told Piers Morgan Uncensored.
"At this point Luke had just got into the semi-finals and we said you got to put Luke Littler in.
"There was a lot of members of the board, who really care deeply about darts, who said now we have a duty to protect this young man.
Luke Littler sits second in the Premier League table
PA
"He's 16, do we really want to be putting him under that pressure and on this stage week in week out?
"Our answer was, 'yeah absolutely. Sling him in'.
"They were right in that way but then when he went in the semis and beat Rob Cross and you realise.
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Luke Littler won his first Premier League night last week
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"Now what he's doing you know - just won in Belgium at the weekend (March 10) with a nine-darter.
"Darts is continuously disrespected as a sport.
"The viewing figures are second only to Premier League football and actually during the World Championships they were on the same level as Premier League football."
