Nathan Aspinall Confronted Luke Littler’s Dad Over His Treatment of 12-Year-Old Luke

Nathan Aspinall has never forgotten his first encounter with Luke Littler, and it wasn’t just because of what happened on the dartboard. In fact, the Stockport-born star was so surprised by what he witnessed afterwards that he decided to speak directly to the young player’s father.

At the time, Littler was just 12 years old, still a youngster trying to make his mark in a sport dominated by experienced professionals. But even at that age, he was already showing signs of the extraordinary talent that would eventually turn him into one of the biggest names in darts.

What happened after their match in Chester offers an interesting insight into Littler’s upbringing, his father’s approach to developing his talent and why Aspinall believes that tough treatment may have played a significant role in producing a world-class player.

Aspinall Remembers His First Match Against Littler

Long before Littler became a household name, Aspinall had already experienced what it was like to face the young sensation.

The two Englishmen met at a tournament in Chester, where Aspinall eventually secured a narrow 4-3 victory. However, the experienced professional was left impressed by the youngster’s ability despite getting the better of him.

Speaking on the Manchester is Red podcast, Aspinall recalled the encounter and admitted that Littler immediately caught his attention.

“The first time I came across Luke, I think it was in Chester in a tournament and I beat him 4-3,” he said.

“I think he was aged four! No, he was around 12 and wow, I just thought ‘who is the kid?'”

There was clearly something special about the youngster, particularly considering the level of opposition he was facing.

Aspinall was already an established professional and ranked among the world’s top 16 players at the time. For a 12-year-old to push someone of that experience so close was impressive in itself.

But the match was only part of the story.

Why Aspinall Confronted Littler’s Father

After the contest, Aspinall noticed something that didn’t particularly sit well with him.

He recalled seeing Littler’s father, Anthony, being extremely critical of his son following the narrow defeat. Rather than celebrating how well the youngster had performed against an established professional, the focus appeared to be on what he had done wrong.

For Aspinall, that was difficult to understand.

He believed a 12-year-old who had just pushed a top-level player to a deciding leg deserved some encouragement rather than criticism.

Recalling the conversation, he explained:

“I remember seeing his dad with him and he was dead critical of him because he’d lost. I was thinking mate, he’s 12, and I was in the top 16 in the world at that time and I said ‘give him a break’.”

Anthony, however, wasn’t interested in changing his approach simply because his son was young.

Aspinall revealed his response was straightforward:

“His dad said ‘no, he needs to learn’ and that hard talk over the years has probably produced one of the best players in our sport. He’s amazing and what else can you say?”

It was a fascinating exchange because the two men appeared to have very different perspectives on how a young sporting talent should be handled.

Aspinall wanted the youngster to enjoy the experience and not put too much pressure on himself. Anthony believed that learning from defeat was an important part of his development.

Interestingly, with everything Littler has achieved since then, Aspinall has come to appreciate the value of that approach.

The Tough Approach That Helped Shape a Future World Champion

Looking back, Aspinall’s comments suggest that the conversation with Anthony was about more than one disappointing result.

Littler’s father clearly believed that his son needed to understand that talent alone would not guarantee success. Even when competing against older and more experienced opponents, he expected the youngster to learn from mistakes and maintain high standards.

There is certainly an argument for both sides.

Children need encouragement, particularly when they are competing in demanding environments. Too much pressure can take the enjoyment out of sport, especially when expectations become overwhelming.

However, learning how to deal with disappointment is also an important part of becoming a successful athlete. Losing a close match can sometimes teach a youngster more than winning comfortably.

In Littler’s case, the combination of natural ability, dedication and his family’s involvement appears to have helped him develop into an exceptional competitor.

And Aspinall eventually acknowledged that the tough approach had produced remarkable results.

Aspinall Has Always Been Impressed by Littler’s Talent

One of the most interesting aspects of this story is that Aspinall’s admiration for Littler goes beyond their friendship.

The former World Matchplay champion has repeatedly spoken about the teenager’s extraordinary ability, even when discussing experiences that happened away from professional tournaments.

In another interview, Aspinall recalled playing a darts game called 170 with Littler at his house.

The game involves checking out 170, also known as the big fish, and Aspinall explained that the youngster managed something he had rarely witnessed.

“Luke Littler did things on the dartboard in my house that I’ve never seen anyone do. That’s the God’s honest truth,” he said.

He then explained just how impressive the youngster had been.

“We play a game called 170. If you take 170 out you get two points, if you take it out in six darts you get one point and it’s first to six. He took four 170s out in six visits to the board. I’m good on the big fish [170 checkout], I never lose at that game and he absolutely tore me a new one. He’s amazing. A unique talent.”

That is particularly impressive considering Aspinall is himself an accomplished player who has competed at the highest level.

The Englishman also highlighted how early Littler started playing darts, explaining that the game became second nature to him from a very young age.

“I didn’t pick a dart up until I was 17, the age that Luke is now, which is mad to think. He’s the most natural dart player that there’ll probably ever be.”

It is easy to understand why Aspinall was so impressed after seeing what Littler could do years before his breakthrough.

From a 12-Year-Old Prospect to a World Champion

The transformation in Littler’s career has been extraordinary.

His breakthrough came at the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship, where he reached the final at just 16 years old. Although he eventually lost 7-4 to Luke Humphries, his performances captured the attention of sports fans around the world.

Many people had expected him to struggle against experienced professionals, but Littler demonstrated remarkable composure throughout the tournament.

He followed that performance by winning major titles and establishing himself among the leading players in the sport.

Then came another historic moment at the 2025 World Championship.

Littler defeated Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final to become the youngest world champion in darts history at just 17.

It was the kind of achievement that confirmed what Aspinall had recognised years earlier when they first met in Chester.

The youngster who had narrowly lost 4-3 to an established professional had become the player everyone else was trying to beat.

And perhaps the most remarkable part is that his development was already well underway long before the television cameras and enormous crowds arrived.

Was Anthony Littler Right to Be So Demanding?

Ultimately, this story raises an interesting question about how young sporting talents should be developed.

Aspinall initially felt that Anthony was being too hard on his 12-year-old son. But years later, he openly acknowledged that the tough approach may have contributed to producing one of the greatest talents the sport has seen.

That doesn’t necessarily mean every young athlete needs the same treatment. Different personalities respond to different approaches, and there is an important balance between demanding excellence and allowing children to enjoy their sport.

Nevertheless, Littler’s achievements suggest that his family’s support and commitment have played an important role in his journey.

What do you think? Was Anthony right to demand more from his son at just 12 years old, or should Aspinall’s advice to give him a break have carried more weight? Share your thoughts.