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 become the "greatest darts player ever" after delivering a commanding defence of his Betfred World Matchplay crown. The 19‑year‑old’s latest triumph has sparked fresh comparisons with the legendary Phil Taylor, whose record‑breaking career set the benchmark for 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 title.

This victory adds to a remarkable run in 2026, during which he has already secured every major PDC title on offer. As his list of achievements expands, the catalogue of superlatives used to describe his brilliance is quickly running out of space. The young phenom is scaling generational heights, eclipsing numerous milestones previously held by his childhood idol, Taylor.

Littler’s résumé already includes successful defences of the World Championship and the UK Open, as well as wins at the Winmau World Masters, the Premier League, and the World Cup of Darts. At just 19, he is now setting his sights on even more accolades 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 drives me. I would 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 stacks up against everything Phil Taylor achieved. I have plenty of years left. When will I retire? I have no idea.

I still have a lot of fuel in the tank." During his Matchplay campaign, Littler posted a tournament‑winning average of 111.04, shattering the previous best of 106.31 set by Taylor in 2010. He also broke his own record for the most 180s in a World Matchplay event. "I’m very happy with my performances, not just in the final but throughout the eight‑day tournament," he added. "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 victories would require him to win the event every year until 2040.

To put the challenge in perspective, Taylor’s dominance in Blackpool began just six months after Littler was born. In 2007, Taylor suffered a quarter‑final loss – only the second defeat at the venue in the 21st century.

Seven years later, after Littler had left his second year of primary school, Taylor was still unbeaten at the Matchplay, closing out a seventh consecutive title and a record 38‑match winning streak. No player since has come close to those extraordinary figures.

The statistical gap between the two may be narrowing. Littler’s 111.04 average is the second‑highest ever recorded in a major tournament, just 0.5 points shy of Taylor’s 2009 European Championship average, despite Littler playing more than twice the number of legs in that event.

When pressed about his future, Littler remained modest. "I can still improve," he said at the press conference.

"At one point I was averaging 120, but I couldn’t sustain it. Maybe in a few years I’ll lock in those numbers.

Right now I’m playing some of my best darts, and I just need to keep it up." His fellow competitor Gerwyn Price described Littler as "one in a million," and the young star has earned widespread praise from peers for his run to another televised title. The achievement is even more impressive given the deepening talent pool at the top of the sport.

PDC chief executive Matt Porter highlighted the financial and competitive significance of Littler’s rise. "Luke’s dominance over the past 12 months has been very Taylor‑esque, which is why he’s amassed £3 million in prize money – a figure we’ve never seen before," Porter told Sky Sports. "The mindset of today’s opponents is different from Taylor’s era.

Twenty years ago, reaching a final was considered a championship. Players like Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and others now aim higher. Luke is almost unstoppable at the moment. No one is truly unstoppable, but his level forces everyone to raise their game if they want to beat him." Looking ahead, Littler faces further title defences at the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix (28 September‑4 October) and the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts (14‑22 November).

He already enjoys a record‑breaking lead at the top of the PDC Order of Merit. A win at the European Championship (22‑25 October) would give him his elusive TV‑ranked title, and capturing all three upcoming events would leave only the Players Championship Finals (27‑29 November) to complete a clean sweep of every major and major televised event in a single calendar year. For context, Taylor’s stellar 2009 season did not include a Premier League title or a World Cup of Darts win – the latter was introduced the following year. Michael van Gerwen’s 2016 dominance also omitted a World Cup victory.

Littler therefore has the opportunity to surpass both legends by achieving a full complement of titles in a single season. Littler has been selective with ProTour events this year, leaving his qualification for the Players Championship Finals uncertain. However, his recent success and the prospect of winning every major have prompted a reassessment of his schedule. "Going into the tournament I’d already won every major, so this was my goal," he explained.

"I’ve been watching the Pro Tour rankings – the 64th spot, which is the final qualification place, keeps moving up. There are four Players Championship events in Leicester that I need to attend. If I don’t qualify I’ll get grilled; if I do, I’ll get grilled anyway. Who knows what will happen?" In just over two and a half years as a professional, Littler has already cemented his status as one of darts’ greats.

The notion that he will continue to improve, chase additional records, and possibly rewrite the sport’s history is both daunting and exhilarating for fans and competitors alike. Fans can follow Littler’s quest for further television silverware on Sky Sports, with live coverage of the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, and the World Darts Championship. The sport can also be streamed without a contract, offering easy access to all the action as Littler strives to etch his name alongside, or perhaps above, the legends of darts.