Luke Littler intervention explained by promoter as darts star targets Premier League win over Gerwyn Price

Littler is currently gearing up for Thursday night's Premier League showdown with Gerwyn Price.

He's already flourished in the competition with victories over the likes of Rob Cross and Luke Humphries, two veterans of the sport.

However, he very nearly didn't play in the Premier League at all.

Hearn, speaking to Sky Sports, has revealed PDC chiefs were wary of including Littler amid concerns over how he'd cope with the pressure at such a young age.

But the boxing promoter then intervened to allay fears and put Littler forward for the competition.

The 44-year-old said: "The PDC board have a WhatsApp group chat and as we know, around the World Championships it's the finalisation of the Premier League line-up.

"Basically, as soon as this kid [Luke Littler] made the last-16 or the quarter finals of the competition, I was thinking he must go in the Premier League line-up. But, I am a casual darts fan.

"You've got people who sit within the PDC who are extreme hardcore darts fans and have been for years.

"They've been a huge part of the PDC development and they weren't sure.

"A lot of feelings within the group was that Luke Littler is 16. Does he have the tenacity? Does he have the mindset? Can he deal with the pressure? Can he deal with the media? We've got to be fair to him. We've got to give him the chance to develop as a player.

"I was like, I get it but he's going to sell out everywhere. Everyone is going to tune in to watch him.

"But, it was probably the Ross Cross victory in the semi-finals that sealed it.

"You saw his mannerisms, his demeanour and the way he responded to the pressure that made you realise this kid is ready.

"He's special and I don't think you could do what he did under that kind of pressure and that kind of media exposure without being special because he played fearlessly.

"That's the greatest sign of someone who can handle the pressure.

"That is someone who can go up there, in that kind of environment, and play carefree.

"It ended up being the greatest decision ever because of what he has done in the Premier League."

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Hearn also believes Littler is in line to earn plenty of money over the course of his career.

"There is that worry that it's too much too soon but I don't think it is," he added.

"You compare it other sports like tennis. Take Emma Radacanu. She was the same kind of age and went out and won the US Open but was she ready for that? What it a one off? Was it a good draw? How are you going to respond to that?

"But, what Luke has done is incredible. He is at the opening of an envelope.

"He's gone to the boxing, he's at Manchester United. He's just embracing it. That's part of the battle, being able to deal with the change that is coming to your life. Not just financially, but the pressure of being a celebrity.

"If you look at the positioning of major stars in the sport in the UK at the moment, he is right there.

"And I mean it, he's right up there. He's making a lot of money and off the oche.

"It's the first time a darts player has signed major sponsorship deals with major brands.

"Outside of PDC partners and manufactures and darts companies. This guy is not now signing major deals with the likes of Bohooman and others."