Littler Aims to Become the Greatest Darts Player Ever – How Near Is He to Matching Taylor?

Luke Littler has once again voiced his ambition to be recognised as the "greatest darts player ever" after delivering a commanding defence of his Betfred World Matchplay title. The 19‑year‑old’s latest triumph has sparked fresh comparisons with the legendary Phil Taylor, whose record‑breaking career set the benchmark for excellence in the sport. The Blackpool Winter Gardens witnessed a historic moment when Littler became the first player since Michael van Gerwen to retain the World Matchplay crown.

This victory adds to his already impressive haul of PDC majors in the 2026 calendar year, cementing his status as the only competitor to have won every major title on offer so far. Littler’s meteoric rise is rapidly filling the pages of darts history. The teenager, who grew up idolising Taylor, is already eclipsing many of his hero’s milestones.

He has already defended the World Championship and the UK Open, captured the Winmau World Masters, the Premier League, and the World Cup of Darts. At just 19, he now has his sights set on further conquests in the months and years ahead. "I don’t think anyone has ever won every major in a calendar year, and that’s exactly what we’re aiming for," Littler told Sky Sports.

"My family backs me 100 percent – that support fuels me. 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 that stacks up against everything Phil Taylor achieved. I have plenty of years left. When will I retire? Who knows?

I still have a lot of fuel in the tank." Littler’s recent performance was nothing short of spectacular. He posted a tournament‑average of 111.04 across five matches, shattering Taylor’s 2010 record of 106.31. He also broke his own record for the most 180s thrown in a World Matchplay, underscoring his scoring power.

"I’m thrilled with how I played, not just in the final but throughout the eight‑day event," 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 legend’s total of World Matchplay titles would require him to win every edition up to 2040 – a daunting task. For perspective, in 2007, just six months after Littler’s birth, Taylor suffered a quarter‑final exit at the same venue, marking only the second time in the 21st century that "The Power" had been beaten at Winter Gardens.

Seven years later, after Littler left primary school, Taylor was still unbeaten at the event, completing a seventh consecutive World Matchplay title and a run of 38 straight victories. The statistical gap between the two is narrowing.

Littler’s 111.04 average is the second‑highest ever recorded in a major tournament, trailing Taylor’s 111.54 from the 2009 European Championship by a mere half‑point, despite Littler playing more than twice the number of legs. "I can still improve," Littler insisted after his press conference. "At one stage I was averaging 120, but I couldn’t sustain it.

Maybe in a few years I’ll be able to hold that level to the end of a match. Right now I’m playing some of my best darts and I just need to keep it up." His peers are quick to recognise his dominance. Gerwyn Price described Littler as "one in a million," while PDC chief executive Matt Porter noted that Littler’s earnings of £3 million this year surpass any previous player’s haul.

"The mentality of opponents today is different from Taylor’s era," Porter explained. "Twenty years ago, reaching a final was the pinnacle.

Nowadays, players like Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and others are all aiming for titles, not just appearances. Luke is almost unstoppable at the moment. No one is truly unstoppable, but his current level forces everyone to raise their game if they want to beat him." Looking ahead, Littler faces further 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 win at the European Championship (22‑25 October) would give him his first TV‑ranked title, and securing the Players Championship Finals (27‑29 November) would complete a clean sweep of every major and televised event in a single calendar year. Taylor’s own 2009 season, while impressive, lacked a Premier League crown and the World Cup of Darts, which debuted the following year.

Michael van Gerwen’s 2016 dominance also missed World Cup glory. Littler therefore has a unique opportunity to outshine both legends by capturing titles they never secured. In recent weeks, Littler has been selective about ProTour events, even risking his qualification for the Players Championship Finals.

However, his recent victory and the prospect of a historic grand slam have prompted a reassessment of his schedule. "Going into the tournament I had already won every major, so this was the next step," he said. "I’ve been monitoring the Pro Tour rankings – the 64th spot, which is the final qualification place, keeps moving up.

There are four Players Championship events in Leicester I need to attend. Whether I qualify or not, I’ll be under scrutiny either way, so who knows what will happen." 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 will continue to improve and chase even more records is both thrilling and a little intimidating for his rivals.

Fans can follow his quest for additional television silverware on Sky Sports, with upcoming coverage of the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, and the World Darts Championship, all available for streaming without a contract.