Phil Taylor, the celebrated former world darts champion, has taken a candid stance on the vocal reactions that young world number one Luke Littler has been encountering on the professional circuit. In a recent interview with Sky Sports News, the 16‑time world champion urged the 19‑year‑old to become accustomed to the boos and whistles that have accompanied him, especially during his appearance at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam. Taylor’s message was clear: the best way to neutralise a hostile audience is to ignore the negativity, stay focused on high‑scoring play, and eventually win the crowd over with consistent excellence.
Littler’s campaign to capture every major PDC title in the 2026 season hit a snag in the Netherlands when Dutch spectators repeatedly whistled and shouted disapproval at his throws. The young prodigy, who has already amassed several major titles, expressed frustration at the persistent heckling and even hinted at the possibility of withdrawing from future events held in the country if the atmosphere did not improve.
Taylor, who retired from active competition in 2018 after a storied career that culminated in his final world crown five years earlier, offered a seasoned perspective on dealing with such pressure. "Littler has got to get used to the boos. Go in there and turn the crowd," Taylor told Sky Sports.
"Sometimes 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." The former champion emphasized that the reaction of the audience often mirrors the quality of a player’s performance. When a competitor strings together high‑checkout finishes and impressive averages, even the most vocal detractors can become silent admirers.
Taylor noted that Littler’s youthful confidence—sometimes perceived as cockiness—was actually an asset, provided the young man learned to accept that crowds may initially be antagonistic before they eventually tire of their own negativity. "He’s young and he’s a little bit cocky at times but that’s good, that’s confidence," Taylor said. "He’s just got to accept crowds are going to be on his back for a little bit, but they will get bored with it. 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 also highlighted that, unlike seasoned veterans who carry the weight of expectations and sponsorship obligations, Littler can afford to approach tournaments with a relatively carefree mindset. "Littler doesn’t have responsibilities.
He can just go up there and enjoy himself and win tournaments," the former champion explained. "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." Beyond the psychological aspect, Taylor offered concrete advice on how Littler could sharpen his game. He suggested that the Warrington‑born phenom should continue practicing relentlessly, treating each practice session as an opportunity to raise his average by “100 per cent.” Drawing a parallel to the fictional boxer Rocky Balboa, Taylor urged Littler to “get the chicken out and chase it down the garden,” a colourful metaphor for relentless pursuit of improvement. "I would have loved him to have been about," the 66‑year‑old said, reflecting on his own journey.
"Any player that used to come through I used to love anyway because I looked at ways of raising my game. 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 also observed that the current generation of players is watching Littler closely and learning from his style.
This heightened scrutiny, he warned, could add mental pressure but also serve as motivation for the young star to refine his technique further. "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 noted. "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 modest yet realistic.
"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 said. Former PDC chairman Barry Hearn also weighed in, describing Littler as a natural‑born darts talent whose success is already transforming his family’s life. Hearn praised the youngster’s ability to stay unfazed by hostile crowds, comparing the situation to a visiting football team taking a penalty in an opponent’s stadium—an inherently noisy and intimidating environment.
"You’ve got to get used to this sort of thing. It’s part and parcel of being a professional," Hearn explained.
Hearn recalled that other notable players, such as Peter Manley and Gerwyn Price, endured similar booing early in their careers before eventually winning over the spectators. He urged Littler to focus on his performance rather than the noise, trusting that consistent victories would silence the “boo boys.” In summary, both Taylor and Hearn agree that the key for Luke Littler is to maintain composure, keep delivering high‑quality darts, and let the results speak for themselves.
By doing so, the young champion can turn a hostile atmosphere into a supportive one, proving that even the most vocal critics can be won over with skill, confidence, and perseverance.