Luke Littler makes vow that will hurt darts bosses as Prem winner seals new job

Luke Littler is set to trim down his tournament schedule after following up 17 demanding weeks of Premier League Darts action with a trip to America for the US Darts Masters.

The 17-year-old's fanbase and pulling power make him an invaluable asset to tournament organisers, who will be desperate to put Littler's name down on their respective entry lists between now and the end of the season.

But the taxing nature of the top-level darts schedule is forcing the youngster to rethink his commitments. "After a day's play in the Premier League Darts, we often leave at three or four in the morning for a European Tour tournament," he explained.

"You have to show your best level that same evening, which is certainly not easy. I am therefore planning to cut my schedule a bit in the coming months and no longer play every tournament. I need that rest every now and then and now that the Premier League Darts is over, we can take stock and see where we stand."

Littler's plan to skip some tournaments later this year comes after he landed himself a new job as an after-dinner speaker. The teenager has won more than £600,000 since rising to fame at the World Darts Championship earlier this year, and his bank account is set to be enhanced even further by his new-found fame.

According to The Sun, Littler could earn £10,000 per night after signing up to the same after-dinner speaking agency as former England footballers Glenn Hoddle and Kevin Keegan.

Darts bosses will naturally be keeping their fingers crossed that Littler's after-dinner exploits don't convince him to play even fewer tournaments, given that he won't be in need of the extra cash.

Littler, who was 16 years old at the time, sent shockwaves through the sporting world by reaching the World Darts Championship final in January. He lost to Luke Humphries, but the pair's gripping battle brought in record-breaking TV audiences for the sport.

And Littler took the ultimate revenge on 'Cool Hand' by defeating him in last month's Premier League Darts final. Asked whether the achievement had sunk in, Littler said: "It has now dawned on me. Although I didn't have much time to dwell on it, because a few days later I left for New York for the US Darts Masters.

"It's a very busy schedule. I just think to myself, maybe in a few years an older Luke Littler will look back and see what I've done at this point."