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 in history, a claim that feels increasingly plausible after his commanding defence of the Betfred World Matchplay title. The 19‑year‑old’s recent triumph has sparked fresh comparisons with Phil Taylor, whose record‑breaking career set a benchmark that few have approached. At Blackpool's Winter Gardens, Littler completed a historic week by becoming the first player since Michael van Gerwen to retain the World Matchplay crown. The victory adds to an already impressive tally of major titles that he has collected in 2026, making him the only competitor to have captured every PDC major on offer so far this year.

The list of accolades that could be used to describe Littler’s brilliance is rapidly expanding. The teenage prodigy is scaling to a generational level that threatens to eclipse many of the records once held by his childhood idol, Phil Taylor.

While the original article contains a note about using Chrome for a better video experience, the focus here is on Littler’s achievements and his vision for the future. Littler has already defended his World Championship and UK Open crowns, added a Winmau World Masters title, a Premier League victory, and a World Cup of Darts win to his résumé. The 19‑year‑old now sets his sights on further success in the coming months and years. "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 backs me 100 percent – that support drives me. I would love to be the greatest darts player ever.

As I’ve said, I need to win 16 world titles and then see how that stacks up against everything Phil Taylor achieved. I have many years left in me; I don’t know when I’ll retire, but I still have plenty of fuel in the tank." Littler’s recent Matchplay performance was described by him as "one of the best weeks" of his career.

He dominated the final against Gerwyn Price, posting a tournament‑record average of 111.04 across five matches – eclipsing Taylor’s previous best of 106.31 set in 2010. He also broke his own record for the most 180s thrown in a World Matchplay event. "I’m very happy with my performances, not just in the final but throughout the eight‑day event," Littler added. "It’s crazy to think that the 109 average I recorded was actually my lowest figure of the tournament!" Although Littler now holds the trophy that bears Taylor’s name, matching the legendary player’s total of World Matchplay titles would require him to win every edition of the event up to 2040.

For perspective, in 2007 – the year Littler was born – Taylor suffered a quarter‑final loss at the Matchplay, a rarity at the time. Seven years later, after Littler had left primary school, Taylor was still unbeaten at the venue, securing a seventh consecutive Matchplay title and a record 38‑match winning streak. The statistical comparison may seem uneven, but the scoring gap is narrow. Littler’s 111.04 average is the second‑highest tournament average ever recorded, just 0.5 points shy of Taylor’s 111.54 in the 2009 European Championship, despite Littler playing more than twice the number of legs.

"I can still improve," Littler insisted at his press conference. "I reached a 120 average at one point in a match but couldn’t sustain it.

Maybe in a few years I’ll be able to hold that level to the end. Right now I’m playing some of my best darts and I just need to keep it up." PDC chief executive Matt Porter praised Littler, calling him "one in a million" and noting that his dominance over the past twelve months mirrors Taylor’s era.

Porter highlighted that Littler has already amassed £3 million in prize money – a figure unprecedented in the sport – and that the modern field is deeper than ever, making his achievements even more impressive. 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 also aims to capture the elusive TV‑ranked title at the European Championship (22–25 October).

Securing those three events would leave only the Players Championship Finals (27–29 November) to complete a clean sweep of every major and televised tournament in a single calendar year. When Taylor’s 2009 season is examined, it lacked a Premier League title and the World Cup of Darts, which only began the following year. Michael van Gerwen’s 2016 dominance similarly missed World Cup glory.

Littler, therefore, has a unique opportunity to surpass both legends by winning every major 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 victory and the prospect of completing a calendar‑year grand slam have prompted him to reconsider his schedule. "Going into the tournament I had already won every major, so that was my goal," Littler 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 I need to attend.

Whether I qualify or not, I’ll be under pressure either way." In just over two and a half years as a professional, Littler has cemented his status as one of darts’ greats. The notion that he will continue to refine his game and chase additional records is both daunting and exhilarating for fans of the sport. Fans can follow Littler’s pursuit of further TV silverware on Sky Sports, with live coverage of the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, and the World Darts Championship.

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