MICHAEL VAN GERWEN told ten-year-old darts prodigy Owen Bryceland: Learn from your mistakes.
Scottish wonderkid Bryceland made headlines this month after hitting a record-breaking average of 104.86 en route to winning a Foundation Tour event.
He wants to emulate Luke Littler by playing at the PDC World Championship in six years’ time.
Three-time world champ Van Gerwen, 34, said: “What the kid has done is nice. It’s good for darts.
“It’s nice to help the next generation but they have to make the mistakes themselves.
Fans in hysterics as Price wears EAR DEFENDERS to block boos but still loses
“Then they learn the most. That will help them in the long run. You need to give yourself the time for the sport.
“We play in big venues now in front of millions of viewers around the world.”
Littler crashed to a 6-3 loss to Michael Smith in the quarter-finals of Night 12 in the Premier League.
The early exit in Rotterdam sees the Nuke drop to second in the standings behind world champion Luke Humphries.
Meanwhile, Van Gerwen is narrowly holding on to the fourth play-off berth after losing his own quarter-final to Humphries.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Cool Hand was beaten in the last four by eventual nightly winner Nathan Aspinall, who beat Smith 6-4 in Thursday's final.
Just four nights remain before the play-offs, starting with night 13 in Liverpool next week.
First, though, Littler and Van Gerwen are in action in Germany this weekend as the European Tour continues.
The teenager makes his return as a tour card qualifier at the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen.
Price may boycott Ally Pally after exit as he blocks boos with ear defenders
He takes on German Arno Merk in round one, with Humphries awaiting the winner.
PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS TABLE: LATEST STANDINGS AS EIGHT STARS BATTLE FOR HUGE £275K PRIZE