Darts legend Phil Taylor believes Luke Littler is close to the complete package—but insists the teenage superstar still has one weakness that rivals can target at the PDC World Darts Championship.
Littler, 18, has taken the sport by storm since his explosive breakthrough in 2024, winning major titles, smashing records, and establishing himself as one of the world’s most feared players. But despite his dominance, the 16-time world champion says there remains a small opening opponents can exploit—if they’re brave enough.
Taylor: “There’s only one way to beat him”
Speaking about the rise of The Nuke, Taylor offered huge praise before identifying the psychological edge as the key battleground.
“Luke Littler has almost everything—scoring, finishing, confidence—but the only way to beat him is to get ahead early and pile the pressure on,” Taylor said.
“He’s young. If you make him chase, that’s where you might get a chance.”
Taylor emphasised that Littler’s unmatched scoring power means most players crumble when they fall behind—but flipping that script may be the only real strategy against him.
A weakness based on youth, not ability
Rather than a technical flaw, Taylor believes Littler’s vulnerability is rooted in inexperience:
- He can sometimes rush key moments when behind
- His rhythm changes slightly when matches swing against him
- Opponents rarely test his composure because he usually leads from the front
“If you let him settle, you’re done,” Taylor warned. “But if you make him uncomfortable early, that’s when he’s still learning.”
Littler improving rapidly
Taylor also admitted that Littler is already maturing mentally and steadily closing whatever gap remains in his game.
“He’s improving so quickly that even this weakness won’t last long,” Taylor said. “He’ll learn to handle those moments, and then good luck beating him.”
Will anyone exploit it at Ally Pally?
With Littler entering the 2026 World Championship as one of the favourites, rivals will undoubtedly take Taylor’s advice to heart:
- Start fast
- Hit big early finishes
- Stop Littler from controlling the pace
But doing it is easier said than done. Littler’s incredible consistency has destroyed many game plans before they’ve even begun.
Right now, the teenager remains darts’ most exciting—and most intimidating—player. And according to Phil Taylor, only one weakness stands between him and total domination.
