LITTLER FEELING PREMIER LEAGUE HEAT
20/02/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
WAYNE MARDLE admits there is already “pressure” building on Luke Littler after his slow Premier League start.
World No.1 Littler suffered a 6-1 thrashing to Jonny Clayton in the semi-final on Night Three at Glasgow.
‘The Nuke’ is still searching for his first nightly victory and has just four points to his name, leaving him sixth in the table.
Former pro Mardle believes the world champion is not producing his usual relentless standard.
He said: “I didn’t think I’d be saying it so soon, that there’s a tiny bit of pressure on Luke Littler.
“Not to go and win the night but win and feel better because he’s not playing anywhere near his normal standard.
“It’s a real small sample but he’s not playing to his 105/106 average, which seemingly he can do on his head. It’s not working for him, it’s not going his way.
“Against Jonny he’s playing a man that doesn’t fear him, it’s a big game for Luke Littler.”
Sky Sports pundit Laura Turner added: “The Premier League hasn’t been up there with the levels we expect of Luke Littler. We are waiting for him to go boom.”
The Warrington thrower’s previous worst defeats were 6-1 to Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries in 2024 and 2025.
Littler faces Clayton in the quarter-final next week at Belfast in the SSE Arena.
The teen sensation headlines this weekend’s inaugural Poland Darts Open in Krakow, where he faces either Mike De Decker or Marvin Kraft in the second round on Saturday night.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
