Luke Littler has once again voiced his ambition to be recognised as the "greatest darts player ever" after 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 achievements have long set the benchmark for the sport. The Blackpool Winter Gardens stage witnessed a historic moment when Littler became the first player since Michael van Gerwen to retain the World Matchplay title. By doing so, he added another feather to his cap in a year that has already seen him capture every PDC major on the calendar.
The teenager’s meteoric rise is rapidly filling the pages of darts history, as he continues to eclipse milestones once held by his childhood idol, Taylor. Littler entered the tournament already boasting an impressive résumé: he had defended his World Championship and UK Open crowns, claimed the Winmau World Masters, triumphed in the Premier League and led England to victory in the World Cup of Darts. At just 19, he now has his sights set on even greater success in the months and years ahead.
"I don’t think anyone has ever won every major in a calendar year and that’s what we’re aiming for," Littler told Sky Sports. "My family are my biggest supporters – they back me 100 percent and that drives me. I would love to be the greatest darts player there ever has been.
As I’ve always said, I need to win 16 world titles and then see what else Phil Taylor achieved. I still have plenty of years left. When will I retire?
No idea. I’ve still got a lot of fuel in the tank." During the week‑long event, Littler posted a tournament‑record average of 111.04 across five matches, eclipsing Taylor’s previous best of 106.31 set in 2010. He also smashed his own record for the most 180s thrown at a World Matchplay. "I’m thrilled with my performance, not just in the final but throughout the eight days," Littler added.
"It’s crazy that my lowest average was still 109!" While the trophy he lifted bears Taylor’s name, matching the legend’s total of World Matchplay victories would require Littler to win the event every year until 2040 – an almost unimaginable feat. For context, in 2007, six months after Littler’s birth, Taylor suffered a quarter‑final exit at the same venue – only the second time that century that "The Power" had been beaten at the Winter Gardens. Seven years later, after Littler had left primary school, Taylor was still unbeaten at the tournament, closing out a seventh consecutive title and a record 38‑match winning streak. No modern player has come close to those numbers.
The statistical comparison may appear uneven, but the scoring gap is not. Littler’s 111.04 average ranks as the second‑highest tournament winning average in darts history, just half a point shy of Taylor’s 111.54 in the 2009 European Championship – and Littler achieved this over more than double the number of legs Taylor played in that event. "I can still improve," Littler asserted in his post‑match press conference. "I reached a 120 average at one point.
I didn’t hold it, but maybe in a few years I’ll be able to sustain it to the end of a match. Right now I’m playing some of my best darts and I just need to keep it up." Gerwyn Price, a former world number one, described Littler as "one in a million" and praised the teenager’s consistency despite the deepening talent pool at the sport’s elite level. PDC chief executive Matt Porter echoed the sentiment, noting that Littler’s earnings have topped £3 million – a figure never before seen in darts – and that his dominance over the past twelve months feels distinctly "Taylor‑esque".
Porter added, "The mindset of opponents today is different from Taylor’s era. Back then, reaching a final was the pinnacle for many. Now you have players like Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and others who are all aiming for titles.
Luke is almost unstoppable at the moment. No one is truly unstoppable, but he’s raising the bar for everyone." Looking ahead, Littler has more major titles on his schedule. He will defend his Boyle Sports World Grand Prix crown (28 September–4 October) and then target the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts (14–22 November).
A victory at the European Championship (22–25 October) would give him his first TV‑ranked title, and clinching all three would leave only the Players Championship Finals (27–29 November) to complete a clean sweep of every major and televised event in a single calendar year. Comparing eras, Taylor’s remarkable 2009 season lacked both a Premier League title and a World Cup of Darts win – the latter only launched the following year. Michael van Gerwen’s dominant 2016 campaign also missed World Cup glory. Littler, however, has the opportunity to surpass both by capturing every major available in a single season.
In recent weeks, Littler has been selective about ProTour events, leaving his qualification for the Players Championship Finals uncertain. Yet his recent triumph and the prospect of a historic clean‑sweep have prompted him to reconsider his schedule.
"Going into the tournament I had already won every major, so this was the goal," he explained. "I’ve been watching the ProTour rankings – the 64th spot, which is the final qualification place, keeps moving up. I have four Players Championship events in Leicester to attend. Whether I qualify or not, I’ll be under scrutiny, so 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 refine his game, chase additional records, and perhaps one day eclipse the achievements of Phil Taylor is both daunting and exhilarating for fans of the sport. Fans can follow Littler’s quest for further TV silverware live on Sky Sports, with upcoming broadcasts of the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, and the World Darts Championship. The sport can be streamed without a contract, offering easy access to all the high‑stakes action as Littler strives to rewrite the history books.