Phil Taylor, the 16‑time world darts champion who retired in 2018, has taken a public stance on the treatment of the sport's newest star, world number one Luke Littler. After Littler endured a barrage of boos and whistles from Dutch fans during the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, Taylor told Sky Sports News that the young player simply needs to learn to ignore the negativity and turn it to his advantage.

Littler, only 19, entered the 2026 season with the ambition of sweeping every major PDC title. His campaign, however, stumbled at the Amsterdam event when he complained that the crowd repeatedly whistled and jeered at him. The backlash was so intense that the back‑to‑back world champion hinted at possibly boycotting future tournaments in the Netherlands if the hostility continued. Taylor, who won his final world crown in 2013 before stepping away from competitive play five years later, offered his seasoned perspective.

"Littler has got to get used to the boos. Go in there and turn the crowd," the legend said.

He explained that when a player starts hitting high scores—140s, 180s, and big finishes—the audience can quickly change its tone. "If you play well and you start hitting your 140s and 180s, your big finishes, the crowd will turn and don’t react to it, but he does react," Taylor added, noting that Littler tends to let the noise affect his concentration. The veteran also praised Littler’s confidence, describing him as "young and a little bit cocky at times but that’s good, that’s confidence." He urged the teenager to accept that crowds will be critical at first, but that they will eventually tire of the dissent. "Keep doing what you’re doing, keep playing well, and just concentrate.

Let them boo and then do your little antics when you’ve won," Taylor advised. According to Taylor, Littler enjoys a rare freedom in the sport.

"Littler doesn’t have responsibilities. He can just go up there and enjoy himself and win tournaments. Go up there, enjoy it, take no notice of the crowd, which isn’t easy, obviously, but work out a way of turning the crowd around," the former champion explained. He emphasized that the key to success is mental resilience and the ability to convert negative energy into performance fuel.

Taylor also reflected on how Littler could improve his game "100 per cent" by simply continuing to play the board and learning from each match. He likened the process to a Rocky Balboa‑style determination: "You have to be a bit like Rocky Balboa by getting the chicken out and chasing it down the garden.

It’s great to see him up there and he’s a lovely lad who is not money‑orientated." Taylor’s admiration for Littler’s attitude was evident when he said, "Players that were better than me, I thrived on it. I loved it." The former champion noted that other players are already studying Littler’s style.

"What players are doing now is that they’re watching him and they’re jumping on him. Players are getting used to him and they will improve, which will put more mental pressure on Luke," Taylor said.

He suggested that this pressure could become a catalyst for further practice and refinement: "He might then think, ‘I need to practise a bit more,’ so he’s doing things to improve his game whereas before he’s going in there and not thinking about it." When asked whether anyone could ever eclipse his record of 16 world titles, Taylor was realistic but optimistic. "To win 16 world titles you’ve got to be very professional and you’ve got to do it for at least 25 years, I’d say. It will be very difficult to match me but whoever has got talent can do it," he responded.

Former PDC chairman Barry Hearn echoed many of Taylor’s points, describing Littler as a "natural‑born darts player" whose success is already reshaping his family’s future. Hearn highlighted the financial rewards and the responsibility that comes with a packed schedule for a teenager.

"He’s making a huge amount of money. He’s changing his family’s life and generations beyond, which is what all sports stars should aim for," Hearn told Sky Sports News.

Hearn also put the booing in historical context, noting that it is a common part of the sport’s culture. He cited Peter Manley and Gerwyn Price as examples of players who faced sustained heckling before eventually winning over the crowds.

"It’s happened to a lot of players over the years. Manley was the first one I came into contact with, but of late, Price got a lot of stick.

He smiled back at them and today, he’s one of the world’s most popular players," Hearn explained. He urged Littler to focus on his performance rather than the noise: "He’s good enough to show that he can still win and that basically will keep the boo boys, who are out of order by the way, without doubt, keep them quiet." The broader darts community continues to support the sport’s growth, with Sky Sports broadcasting major events such as the World Grand Prix, the Grand Slam of Darts, and the World Darts Championship.

As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Littler to see whether he can silence his detractors and cement his place among the game’s elite, while veterans like Taylor and Hearn remind him—and the audience—that resilience, confidence, and a willingness to embrace the pressure are the true hallmarks of a champion.