Former World Champion Keith Deller believes Luke Littler could walk away from darts before his 23rd birthday.
Like Littler, a young Deller was thrust into the limelight at a young age due to his World Championship heroics.
The then 23-year-old was a relative unknown heading into the 1983 showpiece event and lifted the trophy by becoming the first and only person to win the tournament by beating the world number one, two and three.
Littler captivated the country with his run to the final at Alexandra Palace eight months ago, and Deller believes his newfound riches could see him exit the sport soon.
Deller says Luke Littler could have ‘too much money’
Speaking to Champions UK, Deller shared his concerns about the rapid rise of the 17-year-old.
He said: “Luke’s a brilliant player. But I don’t think he will be around long enough to be the best.
“He’s going to earn so much money that he might say in five years I’ve got 15 million pounds and I’m not that bothered.”
He added: “My only concern for him is that he has got to make sure he has good people around him. When you start with millions in the bank you can almost have too much money.”
‘The Nuke’ has already pocketed over £600k in prize money since December on top of lucrative sponsorship deals.
Longevity concerns shared by other top pundits
Deller is the latest in a string of people to comment on a potential early retirement for Littler.
Last month Glen Durrant expressed his concern, stating that the vast amounts of prize money earned by the youngster could dampen his hunger.
Similarly, Matt Edgar and Chris Mason said they believe Littler could retire by 30 for similar reasons.
The man himself has not suggested he’s planning to hang up the darts anytime soon, however.
Whether it’s decades of dominance or a brief spell of brilliance, fans should sit back and enjoy the stunning story unfolding.
Nobody knows when it will end for sure but whether his career is long or short, his impact on the sport will be felt for a generation.