Michael Van Gerwen criticizes Littler’s port for late arrival at the Premier League event before opening a Night Clash | News Darts
Michael Van Gerwen criticized the Littler Littler World Champion for waiting for his rivals in the Premier League on the media day ahead of the 2025 Premier League.
Littler’s defender and sixfold winner Van Gerwen are in eight competitive players who gathered in Belfast on Wednesday, the day before the introductory night of competition in Northern Ireland.
Among the players’ engagement on Wednesday was a group recording, where Van Gerwen said that Littleler had arrived for 45 minutes after he slept.
The couple play each other in Belfast in the rematch of last year’s World Cup finals, in which 17-year-old Little Blow Van Gerwen refused to ask for his maiden title.
“They have to stop treating themselves as a child. He’s no longer a child, now he’s 18,” Van Gerwen said with a smile.
“This is happening. Must learn. You have to learn a difficult way. It’s a professional sport, so you have to be responsible for your actions. Simply as that.
“If he appears late for an interview, I don’t mind. But seven other people are waiting for him. That’s not very nice, isn’t it?”
‘Tomorrow is a different day’ – MVG warns Littler
Van Gerwen had previously warned Littler that the status of a teenager as a champion in the Premier League defense will count nothing when they meet in the introductory evening.
Last year, Littler imitated Van Gerwen’s Penigo 2013 Victory in the Premier League at the debut, before ‘Nuke’ in January asked for her title of championship in the World World Light World World World World Championships, beating the Dutch in the finals.
The 18-year-old beat Van Gerwen later in January in the Dutch Darts Masters to further improve the one-sided head record to head, but the six-time Premier League champion was stuck in their opening in the night at night in Belfast on Thursday.
Van Gerwen said Sky Sports: “I also won my debut, against Phil Taylor.
“But this will be a different day again. Everyone wants to win, but only one winner can. Of course, everyone will need their points, but you have to take it week by week because it’s 17 weeks long.
“It’s a difficult format. It’s short only, so you have to be sharp constant straight from the beginning, and if you are well, they are waiting for two more games. I like to perform in this tournament, so I don’t see any problems with this.”
Van Gerwen seemed to have found something near his best forms on the way to the finals in Alexandra Palace, because he searched for the first world title since 2019, but was fired in the finals while Littler won 7-3 and asked for his maiden crown.
The Dutchman added: “Most of the tournaments have produced some really good darts and also my mental aspect of the game, I think that was good.
“Losing is always embarrassing, but I get a lot of positive results from this world campaign for championship and move forward, I think it can only help me.”
Littler: I have most of the MVG victories
Littler appeared in a confident mood because he aimed at the “fast start” against Van Gerwen on Thursday.
“Obviously, I have most of the victory over Michael,” Littleler said Sky Sports. “But I just hope for another fast start and guarantee two points on the board.
“It is amazing to return and defend the Premier League, entering as a world champion, while you could say last year that I am a wild card.
“I am full of confidence, but Darts is probably better than what he was this time last year. But I hope to get a win over Michael.”
Littleler admits that the format of the best of 11 legs only serves to increase confidence.
He said, “I absolutely love the format. It’s the format I answer best. Take a quick start, win the first two or three legs and then it’s hard to get the opponent back to me.”
Executing his debut in the Premier League shortly after he broke into the professional scene at the Darts 2023/2024 World Cup, Littler acknowledged that he considered the intensive tournament schedule challenging.
But worrying for his rivals, he believes his experience will only increase his chances from last year.
He said, “Travel is probably one of the worst parts, but I can take what happened last year and bring it in this year. I know what is coming, I know what I can expect and I can say that I’m used to schedule now.”
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