With a combined 18 world titles between them, who better to give young Archie Self a word of advice than Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis?

The 16-year-old has made a name for himself this week by becoming the youngest person to hit a televised nine-darter.

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This eclipsed Luke Littler’s record, who achieved the feat just days before he turned 17.

He has also booked his place in the 2027 PDC World Darts Championship, which begins in December.

Self then capped it off by winning his first high-profile senior darts event - he became the Series 15 champion of the MODUS Super Series.

He can even count Wayne Rooney among his fans, with the former England and Man United striker leaving messages on social media.

‘The Archer’ will turn 17 in November and will be gracing the Ally Pally stage imminently.

Taylor and Lewis’ advice

talkSPORT asked the darts icons about 16-year-old Self and there was one simple message. Get your head down and practice… but make sure to enjoy it.

Sixteen-time world champion Taylor said: “He must have played for a while, the young lad. Fair play to him. But now he's got it set on his laurels.

“Now he's got to get on the practice board and practice even harder now.”

Back-to-back Ally Pally winner Lewis added: “I think you've just got to stay dedicated and enjoy it. Make sure he enjoys it. 

“When you're on that tour and everything else, it does become a grind. It's like a roller coaster.

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“You know what I mean? So you don't see it down. It's just stabilising your game.”

What has Archie Self said?

Speaking after claiming the MODUS Super Series title, Self said: “I was so nervous all the way through. Everything seemed to be going high.

“I changed the way I was throwing towards the stem and it worked. But this week has helped my confidence.

“I watched the Pro Tour on Thursday and what a boy Tommy Morris is, that’s all I am saying.

“My team are special to me. Every single one of them. Okay, I got a bit annoyed with them towards the end of that final.

“I didn’t want them shouting at me as I was going for my throw.

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“I did a couple of gestures to calm them down but that’s darts unfortunately.

“This is my biggest achievement, 100 per cent. I was world junior champion at Lakeside.

“But that was a youth career. This is the first big men’s tournament I have won.

“I was told I’m 21st favourite (for the Worlds) the other day. I said: ‘How?’ I have only played four Pro Tours and that is it.

“I’m looking forward to Ally Pally and hopefully I can take this form to that.”