Luke Littler has once again voiced his ambition to be recognised as the greatest darts player in history after delivering a commanding defense of his Betfred World Matchplay crown. The 19‑year‑old’s recent triumph has intensified the conversation about how his achievements stack up against the legendary Phil Taylor, whose record‑breaking career set the benchmark for the sport.
At Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Littler capped a historic week by becoming the first player since Michael van Gerwen to retain the World Matchplay title. This victory adds to an already impressive haul of PDC majors that he has collected in 2026, reinforcing his status as the only competitor to have captured every major on the calendar so far this year.
The catalogue of darts superlatives is quickly filling up as the teenage prodigy continues to ascend to generational heights. He is already eclipsing numerous milestones previously held by his childhood idol, Phil Taylor, and the list of records he could potentially rewrite seems endless.
Littler’s résumé already includes successful defenses of the World Championship and the UK Open, as well as victories in the Winmau World Masters, the Premier League, and the World Cup of Darts. At just 19, he is now setting his sights on further triumphs in the months and years ahead. "I don’t think anyone has ever won every major in a single calendar year, and that’s exactly what we’re aiming for," Littler told Sky Sports.
"My family backs me 100 percent – they’re my biggest motivation." He went on to say, "I would absolutely love to be the greatest darts player that ever lived. As I’ve always said, I need to win 16 world titles and then see how my record compares with everything Phil Taylor achieved." When asked about retirement, Littler smiled, "I have plenty of years left.
Who knows when I’ll hang up my darts? I still have a lot of fuel in the tank." ### Record‑breaking performance at the Matchplay During the tournament, Littler posted an astonishing 111.04 average across his five matches, shattering Taylor’s 2010 best of 106.31. He also broke his own record for the most 180s thrown in a single World Matchplay event.
"I’m thrilled with my performances, not just in the final but throughout the eight days of competition," he said. "It’s crazy to think that my lowest average was still 109!" While Littler now holds the trophy that bears Taylor’s name, matching the legendary player’s total of World Matchplay titles would require him to win the event every year until 2040 – a daunting task given Taylor’s own record of seven consecutive titles and 38 straight match wins during his dominant spell. In 2007, the year Littler was born, Taylor suffered a rare quarter‑final loss at the Matchplay, only the second defeat he’d experienced at the Winter Gardens in the 21st century. Seven years later, after Littler had just finished his second year of primary school, Taylor was still unbeaten at the venue, completing a seventh straight title run.
### Statistical comparisons Littler’s tournament average is the second‑highest ever recorded in a major, trailing Taylor’s 2009 European Championship performance by a mere 0.5 points, despite Littler playing more than twice the number of legs. "I can still improve," Littler asserted at the press conference. "At one point I was averaging 120.
I didn’t sustain it, but maybe in a few years I’ll be able to keep that level throughout a match." His dominance has drawn praise from peers and officials alike. PDC chief executive Matt Porter noted, "Luke’s dominance over the past twelve months is very Taylor‑esque, which is why he’s already amassed £3 million in prize money – a figure we’ve never seen before.
The mentality of today’s opponents is different; players like Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and others are not just there to fill the field. Luke is almost unstoppable right now." ### Upcoming challenges and the quest for a calendar‑year sweep Littler’s schedule now includes title defenses at the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix (28 September–4 October) and the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts (14–22 November). He also leads the PDC rankings with a record‑breaking margin.
A crucial target remains the European Championship (22–25 October), where he hopes to secure his first TV‑ranked title. Winning that event, along with the Grand Prix, Grand Slam and the Players Championship Finals (27–29 November), would give him a clean sweep of every major and televised event in a single calendar year – a feat no one has ever accomplished.
For context, Taylor’s spectacular 2009 season lacked a Premier League title and the World Cup of Darts (which debuted the following year), while Michael van Gerwen’s 2016 domination missed World Cup glory as well. Littler therefore has a unique opportunity to surpass both legends by capturing every major in one season. Littler has been selective with ProTour events this year, leaving his qualification for the Players Championship Finals uncertain. However, his recent victory and the prospect of a historic sweep have prompted a reassessment of his schedule.
"Going into the tournament I’d already won every major, so that was my goal," he explained. "I’m watching the Pro Tour rankings – the 64th spot keeps moving up. I have four Players Championship events in Leicester to decide my fate.
Whether I qualify or not, I’ll be under scrutiny either way." ### Legacy in the making In just over two and a half years as a professional, Littler has already cemented his place among the sport’s greats. The notion that he could continue to improve while chasing records that have stood for decades is both exhilarating and a little intimidating for his rivals. Fans can follow his journey live on Sky Sports, where upcoming broadcasts will include the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and the World Darts Championship. For those who prefer streaming, darts action is also available without a contract through various online platforms.
Littler’s ambition, combined with his prodigious talent and relentless work ethic, suggests that the gap between him and the legends of the game may be narrowing faster than anyone anticipated. Whether he ultimately eclipses Phil Taylor’s legacy remains to be seen, but the trajectory of his career points toward a new era of dominance in professional darts.