Luke Littler breaks silence on bizarre Phil Taylor encounter and makes shock world title admission

LUKE LITTLER has revealed he was left completely starstruck the first time he met his childhood hero Phil Taylor – after waking up to find the darts legend waiting in his family’s garden for a coffee.

The reigning world champion admitted he barely knew what to say when the 16-time world champion paid him a visit just months after Littler’s sensational run to the 2024 World Darts Championship final turned him into a global superstar.

Despite the 46-year age gap and never facing each other on the professional stage, the pair have forged a close friendship, helped by their shared partnership with Target Darts.

Taylor first visited Littler’s home midway through 2024, shortly after the teenager’s remarkable debut World Championship campaign. While Littler initially struggled to find his voice, his parents quickly built a strong relationship with “The Power” and regularly seek advice from the greatest player in darts history.

Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Littler recalled: “The first time I was just like, I don’t know what to do. My mum and dad did most of the talking to him.

“They speak to him every day. And it was just crazy. I think there was one morning where I woke up, my mum and dad were out of the house, and then they said, ‘Phil’s coming around soon. Just have a chat, have a coffee.’

“I checked the cameras and he was just stood in the garden. He messaged my dad, ‘I’m just in your garden.’

“I had to go down and see him. I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ I was 17, after the first world final. It was midway through the year.

“He was saying how well I was doing. And obviously we talked about the travel and stuff. It does kill you off.

“There’s a lot of travelling and, yeah, we are darts players, we have to get on with it.”

Littler has already collected two World Championship titles and an astonishing 14 televised major trophies in just two-and-a-half seasons, but insists Taylor remains the greatest player the sport has ever seen.

When asked if he now considers himself the greatest of all time, the 19-year-old dismissed the idea.

“No, Phil Taylor is,” he said.

“To surpass him? I think it would have to be 16 world titles, 16 Matchplays.

“I’ve got many, many years on Phil, so hopefully I can do it.”

However, Littler admitted that if he were in Taylor’s shoes, he would not want anyone eclipsing his incredible achievements.

“If I was Phil, I wouldn’t want anyone to beat it,” he added.

“It’s the same as me. I’m the youngest person to win the World Championship at 17, and I don’t want anyone to ever break that.

“Records are made to be broken. But obviously, winning the World Championship at 17 – and I had the chance to do it at 16. The year later I did it – I don’t want anyone breaking it.”

Littler will continue his busy schedule this week as he headlines the US Darts Masters in New York, with Taylor’s historic records still firmly in his sights.