Phil Taylor has already made his position clear on Luke Littler’s potential to become the greatest of all time, following Luke Humphries’ striking comments after the World Masters final.
Littler captured the World Masters title for the first time on Sunday, edging past Humphries in a thrilling 6-5 victory in Milton Keynes.
The triumph marked the 19-year-old’s fourth major title in a row, coming just weeks after he claimed his second consecutive World Championship crown.
Despite the narrow defeat, Humphries made a huge statement in the aftermath, boldly declaring Littler the best player the sport has ever seen.
“It may be premature, but I think he’s the greatest darts player that’s ever lived,” the 30-year-old said.
However, Littler was quick to dismiss the claim when speaking in his post-match press conference, insisting that true GOAT status can only come if he surpasses the achievements of Phil Taylor.
“I didn’t hear him say that,” Littler told reporters.
“But no, no one will ever be… I won’t be the greatest unless I win more than what Phil won.”
Taylor, who won an incredible 16 world titles during his legendary career, has already spoken openly about Littler’s chances of one day eclipsing his record.
Speaking to The Sun in 2025, Taylor stressed that Littler’s future success depends entirely on how long he stays committed to the sport.
“It’s entirely up to Luke how long he plays, how dedicated he remains and how many titles he wins,” Taylor said.
“For now, just let the kid play.
“He’s a world champion at 17 years old, the youngest to do it by a mile, and he’s just brilliant.
“When people ask how many world titles he can win, don’t forget he has all the time in the world if he wants it.”
The 65-year-old also offered some unusual but valuable advice to the teenage sensation on how to prolong his career and give himself the best possible chance of breaking records.
“If I could give him one piece of advice, or one tip to help him stay at the top, it wouldn’t be anything to do with his darts or the way he navigates his way around the board,” Taylor explained.
“I would tell him shoes.
“If you’re not standing comfortably on the oche, you’re not going to hit a target the size of your little fingernail, so make sure your shoes fit perfectly — and take two or three pairs with you everywhere, and sleep, make sure you get enough rest,” he added.
Comments are closed.