Luke Littler is convinced that very few opponents can halt his momentum after the spectacular display he delivered at the World Matchplay, and he is now setting his sights on achieving a clean sweep of all major titles in 2026. The 19‑year‑old, who captured the 2026 PDC World Championship earlier in the year, turned heads in Blackpool by posting an astonishing average of 111.04, eclipsing the legendary Phil Taylor’s Matchplay record average of 106.31.
During a press interview with Sky Sports at the unveiling of a new mural in his hometown of Warrington, Littler said, “I feel fantastic. With a performance like that, it’s hard to imagine anyone being able to stop me.
An average of 111 in a tournament is simply extraordinary.” His confidence is backed by a remarkable run: he has already secured every major PDC title on the calendar for 2026 – the World Championship, World Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup and now the World Matchplay. If he continues on this trajectory, Littler could become the first player in the sport’s history to claim all eight ranking titles in a single season. He acknowledges that the prospect of a clean sweep is a major motivator as he prepares for the upcoming Players Championship Finals, where he will need to qualify in order to defend his title.
"The clean sweep is definitely on my mind," he explained. "I can’t look too far ahead and say ‘I’ll win the World Championship again’; that’s still five or six months away. Right now I’m focusing on the events that are right in front of me.
I even have a two‑week holiday to Orlando coming up, but the sweep remains a key goal." Littler’s schedule remains packed for the rest of the year. He will be competing in the Players Championship events in Minehead, as well as the World Series, European Tour stops and other high‑profile tournaments. "As long as I qualify for Minehead, whether I win the World Series, the European Tour, or any other event – it’s all coming up. It’s a busy end of the year, but we’ll see how it unfolds," he said.
When asked how a clean sweep would rank among sporting achievements, Littler was unequivocal: "For darts, it would be up there with the very best accomplishments. No one has ever done it before, and I love breaking records. This would be a milestone not just for me, but for the sport as a whole." The mural unveiling in Warrington, which took place just four days after his dominant victory over Gerwyn Price in Blackpool, was a celebratory moment for the teenage phenom.
He signed the artwork, posed for photographs with fans, and even took a few practice throws in front of the gathered crowd. Despite the fanfare, Littler remains grounded both mentally and physically.
"The mural looks amazing," he said. "I saw it the day before and didn’t want to look at it, but they did a fantastic job.
It’s huge – you can see it from miles away. They originally wanted me to sit on the roof for a photo, but I refused and chose to stand on the pavement instead." Looking ahead, Littler’s next competitive appearance will be at the Pro Tour events in Leicester on August 25 and 26, where he will contest Players Championship 27 and 28. These tournaments are crucial for securing his place at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead, the final hurdle in his quest for a historic clean sweep. Beyond the immediate tournaments, Littler’s rise has sparked broader conversations about the evolution of darts.
His rapid ascent at such a young age mirrors the sport’s increasing appeal to younger audiences, and his willingness to engage with media, fans, and promotional activities – such as the mural – demonstrates a modern approach to building a personal brand. This blend of on‑stage excellence and off‑stage outreach is helping to elevate darts from a niche pastime to a mainstream spectator sport. Littler’s performance statistics also merit a closer look.
An average of 111.04 over a full match is not merely a number; it reflects a consistency in high scoring, precision on doubles, and an ability to maintain composure under pressure. By surpassing Phil Taylor’s long‑standing benchmark, Littler has signaled a potential shift in the sport’s performance ceiling. Analysts suggest that his training regimen, which incorporates both physical fitness and mental conditioning, could become a template for future players aiming to replicate his success.
In summary, Luke Littler’s confidence, recent achievements, and strategic focus on the remaining major events position him as the most likely candidate to achieve a clean sweep of all eight ranking titles in 2026. Whether he can sustain this level of performance through the final months of the season remains to be seen, but his determination and the support of his growing fan base suggest that the darts world will be watching closely as he strives to etch his name into the sport’s history books.