Michael van Gerwen has criticised world champion Luke Littler for maintaining his Premier League rivals ready at a media day forward of the 2025 Premier League Darts.
Defending champion Littler and six-time winner Van Gerwen are among the many eight competing gamers who gathered in Belfast on Wednesday, a day earlier than the opening evening of the competitors takes place in Northern Eire.
Among the many gamers’ engagements on Wednesday was a bunch shoot, at which Van Gerwen mentioned Littler arrived 45 minutes late too after oversleeping.
- Premier League darts 2025: Schedule, format, venues, gamers
- Premier League line-up revealed: Who joined Luke Littler?
- Darts in 2025: Key dates for Premier League and extra
- Not obtained Sky? Get Sky Sports activities or stream with NOW
The pair are enjoying one another in Belfast in a rematch of final month’s World Championship remaining, which noticed the then 17-year-old Littler blow Van Gerwen away to say his maiden title.
Littler was late for this {photograph} with the remainder of the 2025 Premier League line-up. Image: Michael Cooper
“They should cease treating him like a child. He is not a child anymore, he is 18 years outdated now,” Van Gerwen mentioned with a smile.
“It occurs. He has to study. You need to study the onerous manner. It is a skilled sport so you must be answerable for your actions. Easy as that.
“If he turns up late for an interview, I do not thoughts. However seven different persons are ready for him. That is not very good, is it?”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Try a few of the most memorable moments from the Premier League
‘Tomorrow is a distinct day’ – MVG warns Littler
Van Gerwen earlier warned Littler that {the teenager}’s standing as Premier League defending champion will rely for nothing after they meet on the opening evening.
Littler final yr emulated Van Gerwen’s 2013 feat of profitable the Premier League on debut, earlier than ‘The Nuke’ went on to say his maiden World Darts Championship title in January by beating the Dutchman within the remaining.
The 18-year-old beat Van Gerwen once more later in January on the Dutch Darts Masters to additional enhance a one-sided head-to-head report, however the six-time Premier League champion is unfazed heading into their headline opening-night conflict in Belfast on Thursday.
Van Gerwen advised Sky Sports activities: “I gained on my debut, in opposition to Phil Taylor as effectively.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Highlights of Luke Littler in opposition to Michael van Gerwen within the remaining of the World Darts Championship
“However that is going to be a distinct day once more. Everybody desires to win however there solely will be one winner. In fact, everybody goes to wish their factors, however you must take it week by week as a result of it is a lengthy 17 weeks.
“It is a powerful format. It is solely brief, so you must be sharp continually straight from the start, and in case you do effectively there’s one other two video games ready. I really like performing on this match so I do not see any issues with this one.”
Van Gerwen appeared to have discovered one thing close to his greatest kind on his strategy to the ultimate at Alexandra Palace as he sought a primary world title since 2019, however was blown away within the remaining as Littler gained 7-3 to say his maiden crown.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Van Gerwen ditched his customary inexperienced shirt for his opening match on the World Masters. (credit score: ITV Sport)
The Dutchman added: “Many of the match I produced some actually good darts and in addition my psychological side of the sport I believe it was good.
“To lose is at all times annoying however I get loads of positives out of this World Championship marketing campaign and transferring forwards I believe it solely might help me.”
Littler: I’ve obtained many of the wins over MVG
Littler appeared in a assured temper as he focused a “fast begin” in opposition to Van Gerwen on Thursday.
“Clearly, I’ve obtained many of the wins over Michael,” Littler advised Sky Sports activities. “However I am simply hoping for an additional fast begin and to ensure two factors on the board.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Littler hit a nine-darter throughout the Premier League Play-Off remaining at London’s O2 enviornment
“It feels superb to come back again and defend the Premier League, coming in as a world champion whereas final yr you possibly can say I used to be a wild card.
“I am filled with confidence however darts might be higher than what it was this time final yr. However I am hoping to get the win over Michael.”
Littler admits the best-of-11-legs format solely serves to extend his confidence.
He mentioned: “I completely love the format. That is the format I go well with most. Get off to a fast begin, win the primary two or three legs after which it’s onerous for the opponent to come back again at me.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Van Gerwen praised ‘star’ Littler after his defeat within the World Darts Championship remaining
Making his Premier League debut shortly after bursting onto the skilled scene on the 2023/2024 World Darts Championship, Littler admitted he discovered the match’s intense schedule difficult.
However worryingly for his rivals, he believes his expertise from final yr will solely increase his probabilities this time round.
He mentioned: “The journey might be one of many worst components however I can take what occurred final yr and convey it into this yr. I do know what’s coming, I do know what to anticipate and I can say I am used to the schedule now.”
Sky Sports activities will as soon as once more be the house of the Premier League in 2025, with each evening solely dwell together with the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and extra! Stream darts and extra prime sport with NOW