Luke Littler Claims Phil Taylor Would “Struggle” in Today’s Darts Era and Hints at Breaking His World Title Record 2u4650

Luke Littler believes that Phil Taylor, widely regarded as the greatest darts player of all time, “would struggle” in the modern game.

Luke Littler vs Phil Taylor y102j

Littler, who has rapidly risen to prominence, reached the PDC World Championship final at just 16 years old and went on to win the title a year later.

With such an explosive start to his career, many are already speculating whether he could challenge Taylor’s record of 16 world titles.

Taylor, now 64, dominated darts for decades, securing his place as the most successful player in history.

However, Littler suggests that the sport has evolved significantly since Taylor’s prime, making it more difficult to achieve such dominance.

“It [the competition] is a lot better now. You still had Phil Taylor, Eric Bristow… it was still a good field, but, nowadays, I think Phil would struggle,” Littler stated on the Stick to Football podcast.

🚨 STF: LUKE LITTLER 🚨

🏆 Life As World Number One at 18!
🎯 Testing The Team’s Darts Skills!
👀 Goals & Catching Phil Taylor…
🔥 United Favourite Player Revealed!

Watch now on YouTube and listen on all major platforms! pic.twitter.com/PKl6vaSh1K

— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) April 3, 2025

Can Luke Littler Break Phil Taylor’s World Championship Record? 5h4t3c

With one World Championship title already under his belt and decades ahead of him, Littler has plenty of time to chase Taylor’s historic record.

However, when asked about the challenge, he remained characteristically laid-back.

“Phil Taylor was my idol. If I can be bothered to stay in darts for that time, I could maybe beat his record,” he said.

Taylor won his 16th and final world title at 52, meaning Littler would have more than 30 years to reach or sur that mark.

But his comments suggest that motivation, rather than ability, might be the biggest factor in determining whether he can rewrite history.

LUKE LITTLER VS PHIL TAYLOR – FIRST TIME EVER!

Watch as The Nuke and The Power finally go head-to-head after months of the world waiting for the clash.

Can the reigning World Champion maintain winning ways or will the 16x World Champion Prove to have the steady hand?… pic.twitter.com/ib3SR64sgo

— Target Darts (@TargetDarts) April 1, 2025

The Changing Landscape of Professional Darts 424r70

One of Littler’s key arguments for why Taylor might struggle today is the level of competition.

Taylor frequently outclassed the field during his era, often winning major tournaments by wide margins. Today, the PDC is filled with world-class talent, making every tournament unpredictable.

Also, financial incentives have changed drastically. The PDC recently announced a major increase in prize money, with the World Championship winner’s payout doubling from £500,000 to £1 million.

When asked about his biggest motivation to keep playing, Littler candidly replied, “Probably just the money, to be fair.”

Littler’s Relaxed Approach to Darts 242x71

Despite his rapid success, Littler has gained a reputation for his casual approach to the game.

He has openly itted to not practising extensively, even skipping major tournaments like the European Darts Trophy – which was won by Nathan Aspinall.

His nonchalant attitude hasn’t stopped him from dominating the Premier League, where he currently leads the standings by six points, having won half of the competition nights so far this season.

Whether his approach will sustain long-term success remains to be seen, but for now, he appears to have the talent to back up his words.