Teen prodigy Luke Littler has once again sent shockwaves through the darts community after clinching the World Matchplay title on Sunday, prompting many to wonder whether anyone will ever be able to match his brilliance again. The 19‑year‑old, nicknamed "The Nuke," dominated the Blackpool arena, securing a decisive 18‑9 victory over Gerwyn Price in the final and defending his crown for a second consecutive year. Littler's command of a darts tournament is hardly a surprise. In 2026 alone he has captured every major PDC trophy on offer, and his performance at the Matchplay has reinforced the perception that he stands head and shoulders above his peers.
Such a string of spectacular results has ignited a broader conversation about his place not just in darts but across the entire sporting landscape. On Sky Sports' "Love The Darts" podcast, former professional Laura Turner and seasoned commentator Chris Murphy debated whether Littler truly deserves the label of the most dominant sportsperson on the planet right now. "Measuring dominance is tricky," Murphy began.
"If you count major titles, darts actually has more of them than most other sports, and Littler has taken home essentially every one of them. Even if you limit the comparison to the top four events, he is sweeping what you might call the Grand Slam of darts.
He already holds all the major crowns and is on track for a clean sweep of every title in the calendar. In that sense, yes, he is the most dominant athlete we see today." Murphy also mentioned two other elite athletes who could be considered his rivals: tennis world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and golf's current king, Scottie Scheffler.
"Sinner is certainly in the conversation, and Scheffler has been number one for a long time, but I don't think either of them comes close to Littler's current run," he concluded. Turner echoed Murphy's admiration but added a broader perspective, noting the rarity of having two English competitors dominate both the men's and women's sides of a sport simultaneously. She highlighted Beau Greaves, who has been a juggernaut in the women's circuit, winning the Women's World Matchplay in Blackpool and claiming 17 of the 24 qualifying titles available. Greaves recently posted a streak of 114 consecutive victories, a run finally halted by Fallon Sherrock, who posted a 102 average to end the streak.
"From a women's darts point of view, Beau is unbelievably dominant," Turner said. "We are incredibly lucky to have such dominance on both sides of the sport at the same time.
I can't think of another sport where you see that level of control from two athletes concurrently." Despite their praise, both pundits agreed that Littler still has a journey ahead before he can be crowned the greatest darts player of all time. When asked whether he could be considered the best ever, Murphy responded, "No, and we need to zoom out a little.
He has the potential to surpass the legends, but he's not there yet." Murphy emphasized the magnitude of Phil Taylor's achievements: sixteen world titles spread across four generations, each requiring adaptation to evolving formats and competition. Taylor retired in 2018, leaving a record that still stands as the benchmark for greatness. Littler, by contrast, has already secured two world championships—in 2025 and 2026—after bursting onto the scene in 2024, but the gap in total titles remains significant.
Turner added that recency bias often inflates the perception of newer stars. "Many people haven't seen the level of play that existed before Luke arrived," she said. "Phil played across different eras, reinvented his game, and consistently outperformed his rivals. In terms of accolades and longevity, Phil remains the greatest darts player ever." Nevertheless, both Turner and Murphy agreed that Littler is arguably one of the most dominant athletes across any sport at this moment.
"Luke Littler may not have the historical résumé of Taylor, but his current dominance is unparalleled," Turner noted. "He is a force that other sports are watching closely." Looking ahead, the conversation turns to upcoming events such as the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where Littler will defend his title as world number one.
Fans can follow the action on Sky Sports or stream it via NOW. The broader question remains: will Littler's dominance continue to expand beyond darts, reshaping how we define sporting supremacy in the modern era? The answer will unfold over the next few seasons, as he aims to add more majors, break records, and perhaps one day eclipse the legend of Phil Taylor, cementing his place as not only the king of darts but potentially the most dominant sportsperson in the world.