Summary:
Luke Littler took the opportunity of a quick-fire Q&A with The Athletic, reported by DartsNews on 24 June 2026, to put forward two key ideas: Mitchell Lawrie is one of the young talents to watch, and he believes the Premier League Darts would benefit from expanding from 8 to 10 players. The English champion also shared some more personal answers, naming Manchester as having the best crowd in the Premier League, Nathan Aspinall as his ideal lift companion, Phil Taylor as the legend he would have liked to face, and Stephen Bunting as his closest friend on the circuit.
Mitchell Lawrie, the name chosen by Luke Littler
When Luke Littler talks about the new generation, his opinion naturally carries a little more weight. The English prodigy has shaken up the world rankings in record time and has already become one of the leading figures on the PDC circuit. Interviewed by The Athletic in a quick Q&A format, he was asked to name the next talent to watch.
His answer was brief, but it did not go unnoticed: “There are honestly so many. I’ll say the Scottish lad, Mitchell Lawrie.” Littler did not draw up a long list or try to name as many players as possible. He simply highlighted Mitchell Lawrie, a young Scottish player already seen as one of the prospects to watch over the coming years.
Lawrie notably caught the eye by reaching the final of the WDF World Championship in late 2025. That run strengthened his status as a Scottish prospect, in a landscape where wider exposure depends as much on results as on the ability to deliver under pressure. Being mentioned off the cuff by Littler obviously guarantees nothing, but it does place an extra spotlight on his name.
A strong signal for the young Scottish generation
Scottish darts has already produced some truly major figures at the highest level. Against that backdrop, the emergence of a player like Mitchell Lawrie feels like a natural development: the arrival of a new profile capable of carrying the Scottish flag on major stages. His run to the WDF World Championship final in late 2025 offered an early sporting answer, even if the hardest part is always turning a breakthrough into a sustained trajectory.
Littler’s comment matters because it comes from a player who knows better than anyone how quickly a career can change. In the space of a few seasons, the way a young talent is viewed by the public, the media and organisers can shift dramatically. Lawrie therefore finds himself in an exposed but stimulating position: he is now being watched not only for what he has already done, but for what he could still become.
Littler wants two more players in the Premier League
The same exchange also allowed Luke Littler to share his view on the Premier League Darts format. Asked what change he would like to see, his answer was direct: “Get another two players in. Make it 10.” In his view, the current eight-player field could therefore be expanded to ten.
The idea is not trivial. The Premier League remains one of the biggest showcases in professional darts, with weekly exposure, packed venues and a very particular kind of pressure. Adding two places would potentially open the door to a broader range of profiles: established names left out, emerging talents, in-form specialists or personalities followed closely by fans.
The eight-player format has the advantage of being clear and highly selective. But every year it also creates debate around the absentees. At a time when the overall level keeps getting deeper, Littler seems to be arguing for measured expansion rather than a complete overhaul. Two more players, not a total redesign: the proposal is simple, but it would directly affect the sporting and commercial balance of the competition.
Manchester, Aspinall, Taylor and Bunting among his answers
The quick-fire Q&A was not limited to format talk. Littler also delivered several lighter answers that say a lot about his relationship with the circuit. He picked Manchester as the best Premier League crowd, a choice that makes obvious sense for an English player used to the loud atmospheres of major PDC nights.
Asked which player he would be happy to be stuck in a lift with, Littler chose Nathan Aspinall. The answer fits the image of a circuit where sporting rivalry often coexists with genuine camaraderie, especially in travelling competitions such as the Premier League.
When asked which former legend he would most have liked to face, Littler named Phil Taylor. That too feels logical: Taylor remains the ultimate historical benchmark for several generations of players, and facing him still represents a kind of ultimate test in the imagination of darts.
Finally, Littler named Stephen Bunting as his closest friend on the circuit, adding that they own a horse together. It is a more personal anecdote, but also a reminder that behind the pace of tournaments and televised nights, relationships between players often stretch far beyond the matches themselves.
A short statement, but a revealing one
These answers do not amount to an official announcement or a confirmed reform of the Premier League. They do, however, offer a clearer view of the preferences of a player who has become central to modern darts. Littler is looking towards the next wave, mentions Mitchell Lawrie without hesitation, and believes the biggest weekly stage in the sport could make room for two extra players.
That position carries extra weight because Littler already knows how important this competition is. His 2026 Premier League Darts triumph, sealed against Luke Humphries in a historic O2 final, confirmed his status at the top of the sport. His opinion on the format is therefore not that of a simple observer, but of a player who has already left a mark on the event.
For Mitchell Lawrie, Littler’s words amount to flattering recognition. For the Premier League, the idea of moving to 10 players revives a recurring debate: how do you keep the competition elite while also reflecting the growing depth of the circuit? Littler, for his part, chose the most direct answer possible: add two places and let more players step into the spotlight.
