Nathan Aspinall has issued a stern warning to young darts players as cases of dartitis continue to grow, pointing to the pressure of trying to emulate Luke Littler as a possible cause. The former World Matchplay and UK Open champion, who has battled the condition himself, believes the younger generation is putting too much pressure on themselves in pursuit of following in Littler's footsteps.
"I think the problem is that they all want to be the next Luke Littler," Aspinall told 247Bet. "The reality is there's only one Luke Littler. I think the kids need to enjoy the game. Don't put pressure on yourselves. If you're good enough, it'll come to you."
Aspinall's warning comes as dartitis is becoming an increasingly common topic in darts. "I think the most common question I get asked when I do an exhibition is, 'My kid's got dartitis. Have you got any help?' I'm like, 'How old's your kid?' 'Twelve.' What? I had it because of stress from mortgages, family, problems with the kids. There were so many reasons I had it. But what have you got to worry about at 12 years old?"
Dartitis is a psychological and neuromuscular condition that causes players to lose control when letting go of the dart. It comes in all sorts of forms, and treatment varies. Overall, it is something that has cruelly ended many darts careers. Aspinall is one of the high-profile names to have come through it, displaying it at times on the PDC Tour. The likes of Gian van Veen, Beau Greaves, and even the great Eric Bristow have been hindered. Some come out of it a better player. Some never recover. It will continue to be a major talking point in darts.
Littler's rise has been nothing short of meteoric. 'The Nuke' broke onto the scene as a 16-year-old at the PDC World Darts Championship, reaching the final on debut. He would go on to become a two-time world champion and world number one by the tender age of 19, demolishing everyone in his path. He has won 14 PDC major singles titles and 30 PDC titles in less than three years on the PDC Tour. Aspinall cited Littler raising the bar so high for the young generation as a possible conundrum when on the topic of dartitis, with many players now looking up to him with the ambition of following in his footsteps.
