Michael van Gerwen: I was better than Luke Littler at 16

Michael van Gerwen, the world No 2 darts player, insists he was better than teenage sensation Luke Littler at the same stage of his career.

Littler’s extraordinary route into the last 16 at the World Championship draws comparisons with the Dutchman, who impressed on the BDO as a teenager before switching to the PDC in 2007.

However, while Van Gerwen expressed his delight for Littler’s brilliant form at Alexandra Palace, he said he is not entirely sold on being likened with him.

“Yes and no,” he said of their comparisons. “I think if you look talent-wise then I think I was slightly better, but he doesn’t care whoever he plays and that’s why I admire him.”

Van Gerwen, who has not lifted the title since 2019, eased through to the fourth round with a 4-0 win over Richard Veenstra. However, Littler had already stolen the headlines after taking the tournament by storm with a sensational performance to destroy Matt Campbell 4-1 in the last 32.

“I wish everyone gives me attention because when you get attention it is a pleasure, it is something good,” Van Gerwen said. “When they talk about you it is a good sign, it means you still mean something to the sport.”

Having eased past his compatriot Veenstra, Van Gerwen said there was more to come. “I think there is more to get, I feel comfortable and I feel good and I am looking forward,” he added.

“I was pleased, with the way I played. It gave me confidence, that is the way you want to do things. I did what I had to do.”

Littler, meanwhile, is the youngest player to reach the last 16 and so guarantee himself a prize of at least £35,000. His likely opponent at the Alexandra Palace on Saturday will be darts great Raymond van Barneveld, the Dutch five-time World Champion, who won the last of his titles by beating Phil Taylor in a classic final in 2007 in the same month that Littler was born.

The teenager picked up his first dart only 18 months later and, having grown up idolising Taylor and Van Barneveld, he has repeatedly demonstrated that most priceless attribute of being able to raise his performance level according to the magnitude of the occasion.

“The sky’s the limit because he has no fear – he’s a bully and he’s ruling the schoolyard at the moment,” said John Part, the three-times world champion, of a player who only completed his GCSEs at Warrington’s Padgate Academy in June.