Teen Sensation Littler Sets Sights on Taylor's Record-Breaking Reign

Luke Littler has expressed his desire to surpass the legendary Phil Taylor's record of most days as world No 1. With a substantial lead of £1.59m over Luke Humphries in the PDC rankings, Littler is guaranteed to remain at the top until at least October this year. Having recently claimed the Grand Slam of Darts title, the 18-year-old has his sights set on breaking Taylor's record of 3,343 days at the top of the rankings. Littler aims to create history by beating Taylor's record and staying at the top for as long as possible, with other darts players chasing him. In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, Littler stated, 'It's crazy what I've done. I'm in the clear for world No 1. Phil Taylor had, I don't even know, three or four thousand days at world No 1. That's another bit of history I want to create, beat Phil at the No 1 and stay there for as long as possible.' Littler's journey to a second world title was not without drama, as he faced opposition from spectators during his 4-2 win over Rob Cross in the fourth round. However, he remained unfazed, telling the crowd, 'Am I bothered? Really, am I bothered?! Really not bothered!' He also expressed gratitude to the fans, saying, 'You guys pay for the tickets and you pay for my prize money, so thank you, thank you for my money! Thank you for booing me.' In the aftermath of the incident, Littler reflected on his emotional state, stating, 'There wasn't enough time to think about it, and it all just came out of the blue, and I was very emotional.' Despite the challenges, Littler went on to win the title, with the crowd ultimately supporting him in the final. Between his back-to-back world titles, Littler won five of the seven ranked major titles in 2025, including the UK Open, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam, and the Players Championship. He is now setting his sights on the World Masters and the European Championship, stating, 'I want to dominate everything. Obviously, I want to try and win everything. But the Masters, the Europeans, they're the two ones that I really want to go for this year.' Littler's determination to leave a lasting legacy is evident, as he expressed his desire to be remembered for his titles and to win numerous trophies. Since his recent victory, Littler has received congratulations from several sports personalities and celebrities, including Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Despite his newfound fame, Littler remains grounded, stating, 'I'm just an 18-year-old boy' who is 'competitive when it comes to darts.' He emphasized the importance of staying true to himself, saying, 'I'm just me. As you see me outside the darts, inside the darts, I'll never change. I won't change for anyone.'