Luke Littler’s manager has let the 17-year-old go to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards tonight – despite Phil Taylor calling for the youngster to be banned from attending the event.
The darts star is currently in Salford after a stunning year so far.
Littler was relatively unheard of just 12 months ago but became a household name in just a number of weeks as a result of his sublime performances at the World Darts Championship.
He made the final of that competition in January before proceeding to win the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Luke Littler’s manager has let the 17-year-old go to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards tonight – despite Phil Taylor calling for the youngster to be banned from attending the event
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Littler will be rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in sport this evening.
And he’s been allowed to go by his manager despite Taylor insisting he shouldn’t, with Littler’s World Darts Championship opener just a number of days away.
The darts icon recently said: “Littler is playing like a magician, but Luke Humphries is the man to beat at Ally Pally. “He’s the reigning champion, he’s No 1 in the world and
Littler will have to get past him in the semi-finals if the draw unfolds the way you would expect.
“If I was Luke’s manager I’d tell him, ‘Sorry, you’re not going.’
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“Do you want to hang out with a few celebrities on a red carpet, or do you want to win £500,000?
“And the prize money is only part of it – if Luke wins the world title at 17 years old, the spin-offs and commercial deals will be astronomical, proper life-changing money.
“I was lucky enough to be voted Sports Personality runner-up in 2010, and I did attend the event, but I was 50 years old and I’d won 15 world titles by then.
“If I was Luke, I’d record a video message.”
Littler looked smart in a tuxedo as he smiled for the cameras on the red carpet.
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He will be hoping to win the World Darts Championship this winter, with the youngster eyeing another run to the final – which will take place on January 3.
And Littler recently said he was hoping to become world No 1 in the future as he looks to build on his outstanding start.
“I want to win every Major at least once and be world No 1 – even if it is just for a day,” he said.
“I’d leave the sport very happy if I reached No.1 in the world.
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Luke Littler looked smart in a black tuxedo at the BBC SPOTY
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“But I am here to win, to prove reaching the world championship final was not a fluke.
“I won in Bahrain, I won on the European Tour, I won the Premier League… that was me saying, I am here, it wasn’t a one-off.
“I have had so much going on this year. United have invited me to a few games, I’ve been to the training ground at Carrington as well.
“Meeting Fergie was mental. I am glad they know who I am.”
Luke Littler had been urged to stay away from the BBC SPOTY awards by Phil Taylor
PA
The favourite to tonight the BBC SPOTY award is Keely Hodgkinson.
She won gold in the 800 metres at the Paris Olympics back in the summer, four years after claiming silver in Tokyo.
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