Teen prodigy Luke Littler has once again set the darts community ablaze after clinching the World Matchplay title on Sunday, prompting many to wonder whether anyone will ever be able to match his brilliance again. Known affectionately as "The Nuke," Littler powered through the Blackpool tournament for the second consecutive year, dispatching Gerwyn Price in the final with an emphatic 18-9 scoreline. Littler’s total control of a major darts event is hardly a surprise.
By the end of 2026 he has already amassed every major PDC trophy on offer, and his recent World Matchplay performance has cemented the argument that he stands head‑and‑shoulders above his peers. Such a dominant run has sparked a lively debate about his place not just within darts but across the broader sporting landscape. On Sky Sports' "Love The Darts" podcast, former professional Laura Turner and veteran commentator Chris Murphy examined whether Littler truly deserves the label of the most dominant sportsperson on the planet today. Murphy opened the discussion with a philosophical question: "How do you measure dominance?" He noted that darts boasts more major championships than many other sports, and if you count those titles, Littler is already ticking every box.
"If you look at the top four events and call them the Grand Slam of darts, he holds them all and is on track for a clean sweep of every major title," Murphy said. "That alone makes a strong case for him being the most dominant athlete right now." To provide perspective, Murphy mentioned two other athletes who are often cited as dominant figures in their respective disciplines – tennis world No.
1 Jannik Sinner and golf’s long‑time leader Scottie Scheffler. While he respected their achievements, he concluded that neither could quite match Littler’s current stranglehold on darts. "Sinner is certainly in the conversation, and Scheffler has been No. 1 for a long time, but I don’t think either of them gets close to what Luke is doing," Murphy asserted.
Turner echoed Murphy’s admiration but broadened the conversation to include the women's game. She highlighted how rare it is for two English players to dominate both the men's and women's circuits simultaneously. "It’s hard to say no to the idea that Luke is the most dominant," Turner said. "From a women's perspective, Beau Greaves is unbelievably dominant – she just captured the Women's World Matchplay in Blackpool, winning 17 of the 24 qualifying titles and compiling a streak of 114 consecutive wins before Fallon Sherrock finally ended it with a 102 average." Turner emphasized that the current era of darts is unique: "We’re lucky to have such dominance on both sides of the sport.
I can’t think of another sport right now where anyone is ruling in the way they are." Despite their high praise, both commentators agreed that Littler still has a journey ahead before he can be crowned the greatest darts player of all time. When asked whether he is the best ever, Murphy responded, "No, and that’s where we need to zoom out a little.
He has the potential to surpass the greats, but he’s not there yet." Murphy compared Littler’s record to that of the legendary Phil Taylor, who retired in 2018 with an unmatched 16 world titles spread across four generations of players. "Taylor’s tally is extraordinary because he reinvented himself across different eras and formats. That kind of longevity and adaptability is hard to beat," Murphy explained. Littler, for his part, has already secured two PDC World Championships – in 2025 and 2026 – after bursting onto the scene in 2024.
While impressive, Turner reminded listeners that recency bias often inflates the perception of current stars. "Many people forget how dominant players were before Luke arrived," she said. "Phil played through multiple generations and could get under opponents’ skin in ways that go beyond pure skill." Nevertheless, Turner conceded that Littler is arguably "one of the most dominant sportspeople at this moment," even if he has not yet eclipsed Taylor’s historic legacy.
She added that the ongoing rivalry between the men’s and women’s tours adds an extra layer of excitement to the sport’s narrative. Looking ahead, the conversation turned to upcoming events. The BoyleSports World Grand Prix will see Littler defending his title as world No. 1, with fans able to watch the action on Sky Sports or stream via NOW.
Meanwhile, the Premier League Darts continues to deliver thrilling nights, including performances from Luke Humphries and other rising stars. In summary, Luke Littler’s back‑to‑back World Matchplay triumph and his sweep of every major PDC title in 2026 have positioned him as a dominant force that few can challenge. While experts like Murphy and Turner acknowledge that he still has work to do before he can be placed alongside legends such as Phil Taylor, the consensus is clear: Littler is rewriting the standards of excellence in darts and, for the moment, may well be the most dominant athlete across the sporting world.