Darts ace James Wade has issued a brutal message to Luke Littler after the teenage sensation was dumped out at the first round of the World Matchplay in Blackpool.
Littler suffered a bruising defeat against Michael van Gerwen on Monday evening, with the three-time world champion running out a comfortable 10-5 winner.
It’s a rare slip-up for Littler, who has been close to perfect since bursting onto the scene earlier this year, but Wade predicts the 17-year-old will experience more hard times in the near future.
Speaking to Sportsboom.com, the 41-year-old said: “I heard Glenn Durrant say he’ll [Luke Littler] either dominate for only two years or over 10. I’m not sure which one it’ll be, but I do actually agree with that.
“Let’s be honest, Luke’s probably earned more money than most dart players, if not all dart players, in a year of his existence. So, he doesn’t need to play darts now.”
“He’s influential and financially viable and a great pull. But I’m interested in seeing what he’s doing [in the future].
Wade continued: “He will have a downturn and that’s a hundred per cent [guaranteed], it’ll happen.”
“He [Luke Littler] will struggle, and he will find things hard and then we’ll see what he’s really about.
“I hope everyone gets behind him a little bit and doesn’t slate him. When that does happen, and it will happen.”
By contrast, Wade has been one of the standout performers so far at the Matchplay, knocking out world No.12 Danny Noppert, before backing it up with a win against fifth seed Nathan Aspinall.
And when quizzed on his performances, both this week and throughout his career, the 2007 Matchplay champion suggested he hasn’t been given enough credit.
Wade commented: “I’m James Wade. I’ve won more than every other darts player apart from Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen. There you go. That’s my message.
“I should have been celebrated a little bit different, but I’ve not been because I haven’t done myself any favours.”
Wade will return to the oche on Thursday night as he targets a spot in the semi-finals with a victory over fellow Englishman Ross Smith.
Just two victories away from his first televised final since 2021, should he progress past No.13 seed Smith, a likely meeting against reigning world champion Luke Humphries lies ahead in the semis – a true test of Wade’s current ability.
