‘It’s tough’ – Luke Littler reveals his biggest fear in darts as he gives advice to struggling rival Luke Humphries

LUKE LITTLER reckons burnout is his biggest fear and opponent as he continues to rip up the Premier League record books.

Luke Humphries, the world No.1, revealed over the weekend at an event in Germany that he is in a bad place mentally and needs a break as he struggles to cope with the congested darts calendar.

AlamyLuke Littler has revealed burnout is his biggest fear[/caption]

GettyHe gave advice to Luke Humphries who revealed his struggles with the schedule last week[/caption]

Former world champion Gerwyn Price is another elite star who has had enough of the circuit, saying there is “too much darts at the moment”.

Littler, 18, has been clever, in consultation with his manager, to map out an itinerary that is keeping him fresh and devoid of fatigue.

His weekly routine is working as he heads to Manchester on Thursday – his Premier League Homecoming – searches for a record fifth nightly win.

The Nuke said: “You don’t want to be burned out going on to a stage or travelling to this place.

“You want to go into a venue or hotel room feeling refreshed. Sometimes that isn’t the case.

“It’s tough, especially when players go to these places (on the EuroTour) where you have to get trains, with no direct connecting flights.

“Luke knows now he has to balance his schedule. Just like myself. Just focus on the Premier League.

“It’s not good to see a player like Luke Humphries struggle. That’s why I have taken time off.

“I haven’t gone to the last two European Tours. We both said in Newcastle, we were both tired, we got 93 averages.

“It’s all about balancing it out and picking and choosing what we play in.

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“My manager will set out the calendar and put everything in. He’ll put exhibitions in-between so I will get a reminder, at the start of the week, of what is coming up.

“I’ll pick and choose what I should pull out of and what I should be competing in.”

Littler will head to Ally Pally later this year looking to defend his World Darts title, which he empathically won over Christmas and New Year.

Yet this time the prize money for the Sid Waddell Trophy has doubled from £500,000 to a mega £1million – all thanks to the Luke Littler Effect.

The Warrington lad said: “Playing for a million pounds, it’ll be a different scenario, a different feeling.

“But for myself, we have to get through the rounds and take it game-by-game.

“Every player wants to be the first winner to win the £1million. I’m defending the runner-up prize money from two years ago, so that’s £200,000 on my rankings.

“I have said to myself, I want to win £200,000 before the Worlds. I don’t want to feel any pressure on myself.

“I want to go back-to-back and try to win the big money.

“It goes to show that all eyes are on me going into this year’s world championship.

“People might look at the amount of money I might win within the next five years. I don’t really think of hanging up the darts any time soon.

“Like Michael van Gerwen said for the Premier League, once the fire goes out of your belly, then that’s when you should leave it.

“If you are going on stage not wanting to win then there’s no need to play.”