Luke Littler has been told to brace for up to a dozen talented young darts players who could challenge him in 2027.PDC chairman Barry Hearn believes the current world No.1 could soon face a rise of teenage sensations amid his dominance in the game.Littler has been warned he will soon be met with a host of young challengersGettyLittler himself rose to prominence aged 16 by reaching the final of the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship on debut.He has since won 14 PDC major titles, including becoming a back-to-back world champion at Alexandra Palace.His superstardom has also seen darts enjoy a boom in popularity which could now lead to a plethora of young players emerging into the professional game.Hearn predicts several teenagers could earn their way onto the PDC Tour when Q-School returns in the new year.Littler faces threat of new rivalsSpeaking to Alan Brazil and Neil Warnock on Wednesday’s Breakfast show, the 78-year-old pinpointed the talents of Mitchell Lawrie and Archie Self as potential candidates to cause a stir in the near future.Lawrie was amongst the challengers selected for Netflix’s Beat Luke Littler, but was not drawn to face the Nuke on Friday night.Asked about the 15-year-old’s involvement, Hearn admitted: “He must have fancied his chances. It was the luck of the draw really for him because Mitchell Lawrie is a great player.“We’re looking at him to be the next Luke Littler, can you believe? Luke’s not 20 yet is he, he’s coming up, we’re already trying to replace him. That’s the world we’re living in.“But Mitchell Lawrie was in group four, the highest-seeded group and once every four balls, one of them played. He just didn’t come out of the hat too early.“He was left in the hat and I bet his management and him were thinking because Littler looks as if he was tiring a little bit during that, he wasn’t throwing his best darts.”Lawrie is the reigning JDC world champion and current WDF world No.1Shutterstock EditorialThe Scot reached the final of the 2025 WDF World Darts Championship aged just 14 after becoming the youngest player to compete at a senior event in the organisation’s history.He has since climbed to the top of their world rankings as well as becoming the JDC world champion last December.Who is Archie Self?Meanwhile, Self has also made history as the youngest player to throw a televised nine-darter at 16 years old.Having eclipsed the previous record set by Littler, he is fresh from winning Series 15 of the MODUS Super Series.Self will also appear at the 2027 PDC World Darts Championship after qualifying through the Challenge Tour.The Archer, who turns 17 later this month, has been tipped to earn a Tour Card in January by Hearn.Self has been tipped to win a PDC Tour Card at Q School in JanuaryHe added: “The talent that’s coming into darts blows my mind. We’re in such a good place. I heard someone the other day, ‘isn’t it getting a bit boring because Luke Littler wins everything?’“You think, he’s only been here for two years, he hasn’t exactly dominated. He’s not yet, he may well be.“The man is a great player, but the talent (coming through), and Archie is one of, I can probably reel off a dozen, that just are going to be knocking on the door come Q-School in January.“They are going to go and want to get their card and these kids are not going to be denied.”When does Littler play next?In less than three years as a professional, Littler has already won 30 PDC titles, with his 14 major victories ranking him third all-time.However, fans will only have two more chances to see him in action before the end of 2026.Littler will return to the oche at this month’s Grand Slam of DartsGettyHaving opted not to appear at this week’s final two Players Championship events, he will not defend his title at this month’s Finals in Minehead.Instead, Littler will return to the oche at the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton between November 14 and 22.He is the two-time defending champion after triumphing in both 2024 and 2025.The 19-year-old’s quest for a third successive PDC World Darts Championship will follow in December.This year’s tournament gets underway at Ally Pally on Friday, December 11.Littler will be aiming to become only the third player to win three PDC World Darts Championships after Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.