Steve Beaton, the 1996 world champion, was among those who failed to secure a tour card at the Q school with Suffolk’s Stephen Burton and King also making it through on the final day.
But it is 18-year-old Littler, who now sets the standards others must aspire to reach.
“It’s now becoming a young person’s sport, the amount of youngsters that are coming through and performing, and just doing so well,” said Thorpe.
“A lot of them [older players] just have to hold their hands up and are giving out advice left, right and centre because that’s the main thing they can do.
“I’m thankful for it because the amount of people that have spoken to me over the past week, and even the past few months, I’ve taken everything on board.”
He has won on the Amateur Darts Circuit and the PDC development tour this year and is delighted everything is “getting bigger and better”.
Thorpe added: “Now that I’m on the actual tour, this should be completely life-changing as long as I do what I know I can do.
“The hard work begins now, I guess. The aim is to stay on that tour as long as possible and I’m just so glad I’ve done it this early because with everyone coming up, it’s going to get harder and harder, I think.”