LUKE LITTLER has not ruled out the prospect of insuring his Golden darts arm at some point in his career.
The 18-year-old – who has been using a new set of equipment – will be throwing for £1million this Christmas after the PDC doubled the World Championship winners’ cheque of £500,000 in a landmark move.
Over the past 18 months, Littler has transformed into a global phenomenon and banked more than £2million in combined prize money and commercial deals.
Yet any type of long-term injury could reduce his earning capacity – , for example, pulled out of night ten of the Premier League with a .
Asked if he had ever thought about insuring his arm against future accidents or issues, the Warrington teen said: “I have not got any insurance just yet.
“But I think that is a thought process to get some because anything can happen.
“Playing in one competition for a £1million, it’s going to be a different scenario, a different feeling.
“For myself, I will have to get through the rounds and every year, take it game-by-game.”;
If he does he will follow in the footsteps of one of his heroes, .
Becks insured his legs for £78million ($100m) during his career to mitigate the fallout of a career-ending injury.
On his Manchester ‘Homecoming’, Littler will hope to defeat bogeyman for the first time in a year.
The Nuke expects to feel “goosebumps”; when he returns to the AO Arena for the first time since lifting both the and World Championship trophies.
Booed last week in Berlin for being English, as he experienced a “head-loss moment”; in his quarter-final exit to Chris Dobey, he will be cheered by home fans, especially United supporting ones given his club allegiances.
That home city support will be vital if he is to beat Price, 40, following six straight defeats to the Iceman since last June – Littler’s last win in their duels came in Liverpool in April 2024.
Though Littler insists there are no scars about facing the Welshman again, victory on Thursday night in the Prem quarter-finals would be very satisfying.
Particularly if he can then go on to win the entire night and celebrate a record FIFTH nightly win in this season’s competition.
Littler, the world No.2, said: “I’m looking to try to go back-to-back in Manchester. I won there last year on my debut. Now I’m going back as the world champion.
“I’m trying to get that fifth nightly win to break the record.
“I know there are loads of weeks to go. I want to try and get it done as quickly as possible.
“Obviously I want to try and beat Gezzy. But I won’t go on stage, saying to myself: ‘You need to win this.’
“I’d probably say I’ll feel goosebumps but I wouldn’t say nerves because once you are on stage, the adrenaline will kick in. As I always do, I let my darts do the talking.
“Manchester is a very big city. Football-wise, I grew up as a massive Manchester United fan, as I think everyone knows now.
“Hopefully the support is there for me for Thursday.”;
