Littler reached the final after a stunning campaign at Alexandra Palace (Picture)

Luke Littler will play in the darts Premier League after his sensational breakthrough at the World Darts Championship.

The 16-year-old captured the imagination of the sporting world with his thrilling run to the final, storming past two former world champions in a series of world class displays to reach Wednesday’s final at Alexandra Palace.

The Warrington teenager led world no1 Luke Humphries 4-2 in a gripping final only to lose the next five sets.

Humphries sealed a 7-4 victory to win his first world title and immediately called for his young rival to be named in the Premier League, which begins in Cardiff at the start of February.

Humphries said: ‘I really hope he’s in the Premier League because, if he don’t want to play in it fair enough, but I think he’d be a pleasure to play alongside this year.

‘He’s one of the best players in the world, there is no doubt about that.

‘In the back of my mind throughout today I was thinking, get this one now because he [Littler] is going to dominate world darts soon! I had to win this one tonight and he’s going to win plenty I’m sure.’

Defending Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen, Humphries, Michael Smith and Nathan Aspinall all automatically qualify through the PDC Order of Mert.

Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright and Peter Wright will also feature with the two remaining spots up for grabs.

More to follow

MORE : Luke Littler’s World Darts Championship prize money revealed after final heartbreak

MORE : Luke Littler reveals moment that ‘really annoyed’ him in World Darts Championship final defeat

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The 16-year-old will be part of the campaign that begins on 1 February.