- Van Gerwen had some harsh words for Littler ahead of their Belfast meeting
- Littler turned up to a photoshoot 45 minutes late after falling asleep at his hotel
Michael van Gerwen provided some brutal advice to rival Luke Littler on the eve of the first Premier League Darts event of the new season.
Littler became the youngest winner of the World Championship in January when he beat Van Gerwen to lift the trophy, having reached the final the year previous.
The 18-year-old will begin the defence of his Premier League title, which he won last year, against Van Gerwen in Belfast on Thursday.
And on the eve of the competition, Littler turned up 45 minutes late to a pre-event photoshoot involving all eight players, resulting in some harsh words from Dutch star Van Gerwen.
Speaking on Wednesday, Van Gerwen said: ’45 minutes late, you mean. They need to stop treating him like a baby. He’s not a baby anymore, he’s 18-years-old now.
‘It happens. He has to learn. You have to learn the hard way. It’s a professional sport so you have to be responsible for your actions. Simple as that.
Michael van Gerwen provided some brutal advice to rival Luke Littler, who he plays in Belfast
Van Gerwen insisted Littler is ‘not a baby anymore’ and should be responsible for his actions
‘If he turns up late for an interview, I don’t mind! But seven other people are waiting for him. That’s not very nice, is it?’
Littler later responded to Van Gerwen as he revealed he fell asleep in his hotel room for 25 minutes.
‘You know what Michael’s like,’ the world champion said. ‘He called me lazy. I was just laughing at him.
‘I’ve not watched the whole (Ally Pally) final back – only the winning double. He’s going to be up for it, he’s going to be hungry. But I am up for it as the reigning champion.’
Joining Littler in this year’s lineup is world No.1 Luke Humphries, and two men he beat at Ally Pally in Van Gerwen and Stephen Bunting.
The tournament begins in Belfast and will run for 17 weeks at venues around England, as well as Dublin, Glasgow, Cardiff, and the Netherlands.
The playoffs will begin at The O2 in London on Thursday, May 29.
Littler recently opened up on his chat with Sir Alex Ferguson when he paraded the World Darts Championship trophy around Old Trafford.
After cutting an emotional figure, the teenager was invited to parade the Sid Waddell trophy around Old Trafford at half time of United’s game with Brighton later in the month, being an avid United fan.
‘It was probably one of the best moments of my life and will live with me forever,’ Littler said. ‘I was scheduled to parade the trophy before kick-off but Denis Law had passed away. There was an empty seat there where Denis would have sat on matchday.
‘I sat behind Sir Alex Ferguson and was chatting to him for a bit, which was good. It’s one of the best things I have ever done.’
