NATHAN ASPINALL has dubbed Luke Littler a “lightweight” for only downing four pints.
The former UK Open champion revealed how the teen sensation has changed over the last year and now hangs out with the other players.
Littler was a shock 6-2 opening-round loser against Chris Dobey on Night 9 of the Premier League on Thursday.
But Aspinall, 33, has opened up on The Nuke’s favourite tipple now he’s turned 18 and can drink alcohol.
He said: “He's coming out of his shell a bit as well now with the boys.
“He used to play his darts and go back to his room and play on his PlayStation or whatever.
“He's now actually coming down to the hotel bar and playing cards with us and stuff like that.
“He's definitely grown up in the last 12 months. But I think he's kind of had to really because of everything that's been thrown at him.
“He'll have a couple of Dark Fruits. He's a bit of a lightweight, but he's only 18. He'll have like four pints and that's him done.”
Aspinall also conceded that he has been too nice to his stablemate on the big stage.
Dutch star Vincent van der Voort has said there are too many “fanboys” of the teen sensation.
He said: “Every little thing, they’re giving him fist bumps or smiles.
“Some players just show up and act like the perfect son-in-law, but that doesn’t bring much excitement. There are too many Littler fanboys right now.”
The World No.8 added: “Apparently so. But, to be fair, they were right at the World Championship. I was a bit too respectful to him. I've got to remember that I'm there to win for myself.
“I've known Luke since he was 11 or 12. I'm just generally happy for what he's achieved in the game. He's a really nice kid, but I've just got to start beating him.
“I've said it many times. I don't think I could do what he's had to go through and I'm quite mentally strong.
“At 17, 18, with all the media commitments and going on all these shows. The difference between dart players and footballers is that we don't get media trained.
“He's been thrown into the deep end, going on A League of Their Own and all these different shows. He does get a lot of respect and he deserves it.”
BELOW is a list of darts world champions by year.
The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions.
That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once - Barney also won four BDO titles - and none of Eric Bristow's five BDO titles are included.
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