Luke Littler tipped to leave darts ‘at his peak’ as retirement date prediction made

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Former Premier League darts champion Glen Durrant believes Luke Littler could end up retiring from darts at his peak.Littler is already a two-time world champion and World No.1 at 19, and Durrant thinks he may only play for another ten years.Littler has been tipped to leave darts in the next 10 years amid his remarkable rise and dominance of the sportGettyConcerns around the future of the teenage sensation in the sport have already been raised in recent months.Not only due to his dominance, but also amid regular hostile behaviour towards him from crowds at events.When does Durrant think Littler will retire?Because of that, Durrant is struggling to see a scenario where Littler continues taking to the oche professionally past 30 years old.He told OLBG: “I’ve said ten years. Maybe to the age of 30. And that’s probably when he’s going to be at his peak.“When you start adding attributes like experience and things like that, I feel darts players are reaching their peak between 30 and 40. “But I just don’t see him going the distance, because it’s the motivational side of things.”Durrant mentioned the amount of money that Littler has won already in his incredible, fast-tracked career.He broke a record this year for the most ever prize money won by a player, historically moving past the £3million mark.“When you get set for life, when he’s going to have a young family, do I really want to go and have to practise?” Durrant said.“Do I really want to go to the European Tour? Do I really want to go to a Players Championship?Durrant has questioned whether Littler, who has won a record amount of money this year, will still have the motivation to keep playing in the futureGetty“I think he’d always miss the TV tournaments, but I just don’t see him winning 16 world titles.”Durrant concluded: “We’ll be talking about Luke Littler for the rest of our lives in the same breath as Eric Bristow, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen, this generational talent.“He’s maturing nicely, but longevity? I don’t think so.”‘I don’t think he’s a darts player anymore’As well as potentially leaving darts due to winning all there is to win, or leaving due to fan treatment, could a career away from the professional oche tempt Littler away from the sport? Durrant thinks so, labelling the teenager a ‘celebrity’ rather than just being a darts player.He admitted: “If he walked away tomorrow, he’d be an incredible loss. Littler feels a little bit special.Littler is the World No.1 in his sport, but he is also well-known outside of it – and that could also impact his future in dartsGetty“I don’t think he’s a darts player anymore. I think he’s a celebrity. He’s one of the most recognised people in the UK.“And it’s very difficult to try and talk darts generally when you’re talking about Littler, because he’s just so different to everybody else.”Durrant added: “Gone are the days where he worries about money now, because he’s probably already got money to set him up for the rest of his life.“But that feeling of lifting a trophy, it’s a real adrenaline rush that I think would be impossible to walk away from.“Who knows what he’s got behind the scenes, endorsements and other things he’s doing.“Do I think he’ll walk away? I don’t think he will. Would he be a massive miss? Almost irreplaceable.”