Teen prodigy Luke Littler has sent shockwaves through the darts community after clinching another World Matchplay title on Sunday, prompting many to wonder whether anyone will ever be able to match his level again. The 19‑year‑old, affectionately known as "The Nuke," dominated the Blackpool arena, dispatching defending champion Gerwyn Price with an 18‑9 scoreline and securing his second consecutive Matchplay crown. Littler's total control of a major darts tournament is hardly a surprise.
In 2026 alone he has captured every PDC major on the calendar, and his recent performance in the Matchplay has cemented his reputation as a cut‑above the rest. His extraordinary run has ignited a lively debate about his place not just in darts but across all sports, with Sky Sports' "Love The Darts" podcast bringing together former player Laura Turner and commentator Chris Murphy to discuss whether Littler truly deserves the label of the most dominant sportsperson on the planet today. Murphy opened the discussion by questioning how one measures dominance.
"Darts has more major championships than most sports, so if you count major titles, Littler is already ahead of virtually everyone," he said. He added that when you limit the comparison to the four biggest events, Littler is effectively sweeping what could be called a Grand Slam of darts. "He holds every major and is on track for a clean sweep of every title this season," Murphy continued, concluding, "Yes, I think he is the most dominant right now." To provide perspective, Murphy named two other elite athletes who come close to challenging Littler's claim: tennis world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and golf's current king, Scottie Scheffler.
Yet he argued that even these champions cannot match the consistency and breadth of Littler's achievements. "Sinner is impressive, and Scheffler has dominated golf for years, but neither comes near Littler's level of control in their respective sports," Murphy asserted. Turner echoed many of Murphy's points but broadened the conversation to include women's darts.
She highlighted Beau Greaves, who has been a force in the women's circuit, winning 17 of the 24 qualifying titles for the Women's World Matchplay and amassing a 114‑match winning streak that was finally broken only by Fallon Sherrock, who posted a 102 average to end the run. "From a women's perspective, Greaves is unbelievably dominant," Turner said. "We are fortunate to have two English players, Littler and Greaves, dominating both the men's and women's sides of the sport at the same time." Both pundits agreed that while Littler's current form is extraordinary, he still has a distance to travel before he can be crowned the greatest darts player of all time. When asked if Littler is the best ever, Murphy responded, "No, we need to zoom out a little.
He has the potential to surpass the legends, but he's not there yet." He cited Phil Taylor as the benchmark, noting Taylor's 16 world titles spread across four generations and his ability to reinvent his game for different eras. Taylor retired in 2018 with a record that still stands as the gold standard in darts. Littler, for his part, has already secured two PDC World Championship titles—in 2025 and 2026—after bursting onto the scene in 2024. While impressive, these achievements sit alongside Taylor's 16‑title haul, making the comparison inevitable.
Turner warned against recency bias, reminding listeners that many fans may overlook the achievements of earlier eras. "Phil played through different generations and could get under his opponents' skin in ways that younger players can't yet replicate," she noted. "His longevity and mental toughness are part of why he's still considered the greatest." Nevertheless, both Turner and Murphy agreed that Littler is arguably the most dominant athlete across all sports at this moment. Turner summed it up: "Luke Littler may not yet have the all‑time record, but his current dominance is unparalleled.
He is, without doubt, one of the most dominant sportspeople in the world right now." Looking ahead, the conversation turns to upcoming events such as the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where Littler will defend his title. Fans can catch the action live on Sky Sports or stream it via the NOW platform. As the season progresses, the question remains: will Littler continue to collect major titles at a rate that forces the sporting world to rewrite its definition of dominance, or will the legends of the past, like Taylor, retain their place at the summit? Only time will tell, but for now, the teenage dart phenom stands at the pinnacle of his sport, challenging the very notion of what it means to be the most dominant athlete on the global stage.