Luke Littler urged to stay grounded as latest PDC World Championship chances rated

Darts icon Bobby George has urged Luke Littler to stay grounded amid his rapid rise in the sport this year.

'The Nuke' returns to Alexandra Palace this week, aiming to improve on that remarkable debut at last year's PDC World Championship. Littler reached the final and finished as runner-up to Luke Humphries.

At just 17-years-old, Littler has already pocketed over £1million in prize money and will significantly increase that sum with a successful World Championship. However, George, two-time finalist in the BDO World Championship during the '80s and '90s, warns that the teenager needs to tread carefully in the face of the limelight.

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"A young man like that, earning that money... I'm sure he wants to spend it on the things that we all did," George told The Mirror, speaking on behalf of 10bet. "Nice car, nice clothes...

"Sometimes it can be difficult when all of those things come at once."

George added: "The reality is that it's hard for people to expect someone like Luke to behave in exactly the same way he did before Ally Pally last year because he turned into a superstar at that tournament. His life changed and he probably couldn't do all the normal things he used to do.

"Money and fame can be awkward for some people. People can change.

"My advice to him would be to simply keep his feet on the ground and do exactly what he's done all year - play darts and don't get involved in people saying; 'Sign this contract and do this,' because there's a lot of sharks out there. Just keep your feet on the ground, don't grow up