Luke Littler has once again declared his ambition to be the "greatest darts player ever" after a commanding defence of his Betfred World Matchplay crown. The 19‑year‑old’s latest triumph has reignited discussions about how his achievements stack up against those of the legendary Phil Taylor, whose record‑breaking career set the benchmark for the sport.
At Blackpool's Winter Gardens, Littler completed a historic week by becoming the first player since Michael van Gerwen to successfully retain a World Matchplay title. The victory also meant that, for the first half of the 2026 calendar year, he has added every major PDC trophy to his collection – a feat that places him in a class of his own and threatens to rewrite the record books. The lexicon of darting superlatives is running out of fresh adjectives to describe Littler’s brilliance.
The teenage prodigy is rapidly climbing to a generational level, already eclipsing a number of milestones previously owned by his childhood idol, Taylor. In addition to the Matchplay, Littler has already defended his World Championship and UK Open crowns, and he also holds the Winmau World Masters, the Premier League, and the World Cup of Darts. The young champion says he wants to keep adding to that list for years to come.
"I don't think anyone has ever won every major in the calendar year and that is what we are pushing for," Littler told Sky Sports. "The family, they are always backing me a million per cent and that is what drives me on." He went on to explain his ultimate goal: "I would absolutely love to be the greatest dart player there ever has been. As I have always said, I have got to win 16 of these, 16 worlds, and then have a look at whatever else Phil Taylor did win.
I have plenty more years. When am I going to retire?
Who knows? I still have plenty of years left in the tank." Littler's performance at the Matchplay was statistically historic. He posted a tournament‑average of 111.04 across five matches, shattering Taylor's 2010 record of 106.31. He also broke his own tally for the most 180s hit in a single World Matchplay.
"I am very happy with myself and the performances, not only in the final but the past eight days, every round," he added. "It is crazy to say that the 109 average was my worst average throughout the tournament!" Even with the trophy that bears Taylor’s name in his hands, Littler would still need to win the World Matchplay every year until 2040 to equal the former champion’s total of 16 titles. For context, in 2007 – the year Littler was born – Taylor was eliminated in the quarter‑finals, a rarity at the Winter Gardens.
Seven years later, after Littler had just left his second year of primary school, Taylor was still unbeaten at the event, ultimately securing a seventh consecutive Matchplay title and a record run of 38 straight wins. Comparing the two players, Littler’s tournament winning average is the second‑highest in darts history, just a half‑point shy of Taylor’s 2009 European Championship average, despite playing more than twice the number of legs. "I can still get better," Littler said after the press conference. "I could get a lot better.
At one point I was up to a 120 average, I didn't stick at it, but maybe in a few years I will stick at it and go up to that when the match is finished. At the minute, I'm playing some of the best stuff and I've just got to keep it there." PDC chief executive Matt Porter praised Littler’s consistency, noting that his dominance over the past twelve months is "very Taylor‑esque" and that his prize‑money earnings have topped £3 million – a figure unprecedented in the sport.
Porter also highlighted a shift in the competitive mindset: "Twenty‑odd years ago, players would see getting to the final as their championship. You wouldn't get that answer off Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Nathan Aspinall or Jonny Clayton – those guys are not here to make up the numbers. Luke at the moment is almost unstoppable. Nobody's ever unstoppable, but with the way he's playing, someone's really going to have to up their game if they're going to beat him." Looking ahead, Littler has a packed schedule of major events.
He will defend his title at the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix (28 September–4 October) and the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts (14–22 November). He also aims to capture the elusive TV‑ranked title at the European Championship (22–25 October).
Winning those three, plus the Players Championship Finals (27–29 November), would complete a clean sweep of every major and televised event in a single calendar year – a feat no one has achieved before. For comparison, Taylor’s stellar 2009 season lacked both the Premier League and the World Cup of Darts (the latter debuted the following year), while Michael van Gerwen’s 2016 dominance also missed a World Cup victory. Littler therefore has the opportunity to surpass both legends by securing those missing titles during his current campaign. Littler has been selective with ProTour events this season, even leaving his qualification for the Players Championship Finals in doubt.
However, his recent success and the ambition to win all majors have prompted a reassessment of his schedule. "Coming into the tournament I’d won every major so far, so this is what I wanted to do," he explained.
"I have been checking the Pro Tour rankings – whoever is in 64th (the final qualification spot) just keeps going up and up! I know there are four Players Championship events in Leicester I have to go to now.
If I don't qualify I will get grilled, and if I qualify I will get grilled anyway, so who knows what is going to happen." In just over two and a half years as a professional, Littler has already cemented his place among the sport’s greats. The prospect of him continuing to improve and chase even more records is both thrilling and a little daunting for his rivals.
Fans can follow his journey live on Sky Sports, where his upcoming appearances at the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and the World Darts Championship will be broadcast. The combination of his youthful confidence, relentless work ethic, and statistical breakthroughs suggests that the debate over who truly holds the crown of "greatest darts player ever" may be far from settled – but Luke Littler is certainly making a compelling case.