The debate over whether 18-year-old darts prodigy Luke Littler could outshine Phil Taylor, the sport’s 16-time world champion, gained fresh momentum after former professional darter Andy Cornwall’s provocative statement on the Mission Darts Podcast on August 5, 2025. Cornwall declared, “I think Luke Littler might be better than Phil Taylor. I think he’ll win the Grand Slam. I think he’ll win the Worlds. But the dodgy ones are the Players Championship Finals and European Championship because they are short format. He’s not the best at short format.” This bold claim, reported by dartsnews.com, has reignited discussions comparing “The Nuke” to “The Power,” with Cornwall predicting Littler’s dominance in major tournaments despite his struggles in shorter formats.
Littler’s meteoric rise, highlighted by his 2025 PDC World Championship and World Matchplay titles, fuels the debate. His Matchplay performance, averaging 105.12—the fifth-highest in the event’s history—earned him the Phil Taylor Trophy after an 18-13 win over James Wade, making him the youngest Triple Crown winner. However, Taylor holds the top four Matchplay averages, peaking at 106.31 in 2010, achieved on older boards with larger trebles and fewer bounce-outs, as noted by analyst Jamie Edgar. Chris Mason, a former Taylor rival, dismissed claims that Littler could surpass a prime Taylor, calling them “absolute b******s” on Online Darts. Mason pointed to Taylor’s unmatched averages (e.g., 113 over 24 legs against him) and mental dominance, arguing, “Players wilted under pressure; Taylor got stronger.”
Littler’s 2025 achievements—six majors in 15 months, including the Premier League and UK Open—showcase his scoring power and finishing, which BDO legend Bobby George claimed would overwhelm even a prime Taylor. George’s view, however, was rubbished by Mason, who emphasized Taylor’s 25-year record and darting IQ. Littler himself has expressed ambition to chase Taylor’s 16 world titles, telling Sky Sports in January 2025, “If I want to break the record of Phil Taylor, I’ve got the ability to.” Yet, Dennis Priestley, the 1994 PDC champion, gave Littler “zero chance” of matching Taylor’s haul, citing distractions and the unprecedented longevity required.
Social media reflects the divide. @DartsBehindThe’s post celebrated Littler’s potential to match Taylor, while @ListerAnderson19 argued, “Nobody has or ever will have the ability, determination, focus and fear factor of Phil Taylor.” A Reddit thread on r/Darts favored prime Taylor, with users like u/Think_Cut3121 praising his psychological edge and pace control, though acknowledging Littler’s raw talent. A teased Littler-Taylor exhibition match by Target Darts, later revealed as an April Fools’ joke, further stoked the debate, with George warning Taylor would be “slaughtered” now but not addressing a prime matchup.
Littler’s work ethic, praised by Chris Mason for evolving post-Matchplay, counters narratives of talent alone, with Littler practicing diligently, unlike his earlier “off-colour” games. As he heads to the Australian and New Zealand Darts Masters, Littler’s trajectory suggests he could challenge Taylor’s legacy, but Taylor’s prime dominance—16 world titles and unmatched consistency—remains a towering benchmark.
