Luke Littler’s breathtaking rise has sparked serious debate about whether he can one day eclipse Phil Taylor’s untouchable records — but the teenage sensation faces a major obstacle that the 16-time world champion never had to contend with.
After clinching his second successive World Darts Championship, Littler has already been mentioned in the same breath as Taylor, whose dominance defined an era. On paper, Littler’s scoring power, fearlessness and consistency at just 18 suggest he has everything required to chase down the sport’s greatest achievements.
However, those inside darts believe the modern calendar could prove to be the biggest barrier between Littler and history.
Unlike Taylor’s era, today’s elite players operate in an unforgiving schedule packed with ranking events, televised majors, Premier League commitments and global exhibitions. The sheer volume of travel, media obligations and commercial appearances places enormous physical and mental strain on players from a very young age.
Taylor, by contrast, built his legacy in a period with fewer tournaments, less international travel and far less scrutiny away from the oche. That allowed him to manage his body, motivation and form over more than two decades — a level of longevity that many believe will be harder than ever to replicate.
Former pros have also pointed to the depth of modern darts as another challenge. While Taylor often towered over his rivals, Littler competes in an era stacked with elite-level talent, where early-round matches can be just as demanding as finals. Maintaining dominance year after year in such a competitive field is seen as a monumental task.
There is also the issue of burnout. Littler has gone from a promising youngster to the face of darts almost overnight, with sold-out arenas, relentless attention and sky-high expectations now following him everywhere. Managing that pressure long-term will be crucial if he is to avoid the pitfalls that have derailed other prodigies.
None of this detracts from Littler’s extraordinary achievements so far. At an age when most players are still learning their trade, he is already collecting major titles and rewriting records.
But while talent may put him on Taylor’s path, the modern demands of the sport mean Littler must overcome challenges the darts icon never faced — and that could ultimately decide whether he becomes the greatest of all time.
