Luke Littler warns rivals he is ready to emulate Phil Taylor and DOMINATE darts with winnings set to surpass £3million

Luke Littler believes he has everything it takes to dominate professional darts in the same way his idol, Phil Taylor, once did.

The world No. 1 is preparing to face Dirk van Duijvenbode in the semi-finals of the World Matchplay at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on Saturday, carrying immense confidence after a remarkable run through the tournament.

A victory would not only send the 19-year-old into a second consecutive World Matchplay final but also make history, as he would become the first player in PDC history to surpass £3 million in ranking prize money.

Littler has also been producing sensational numbers on stage. His current tournament average stands at an incredible 111, putting him on track to eclipse Taylor’s long-standing World Matchplay record average of 106.31 if he maintains his form through the final stages.

“I feel really good on stage,” Littler said. “Everything is going well with my preparation. I relax beforehand, have a practice, then relax again. I’m just pleased I can keep performing on the biggest stages.

“You don’t really think about winning by a certain margin. You just want to get the job done.”

Asked whether he believes he can dominate darts in the same fashion as 16-time world champion Taylor, Littler gave an emphatic response.

“I feel like I can,” he said. “I’ve averaged 109, then 113, then back to 109, and I’ve been hitting the big finishes as well. The scoring power is definitely there.

“If I can keep producing those performances, then I’m sure I can dominate. But first, let’s try to get that average back into the 113s in the next game.”

Littler is also aware of the milestone that awaits him in the PDC rankings.

“I checked the rankings the other day, and I think if I beat Dirk I’ll go over the £3 million mark,” he said. “If I keep playing like this and putting up these numbers, it’s going to take something really special from another player to beat me.”

Despite his rapid rise and growing list of achievements, “The Nuke” insists he stays grounded by focusing on one event at a time while continuing to chase new records.

“Every tournament is pretty much the same for me,” Littler explained. “I chill out, play Xbox, get a bit of practice in, and that’s about it. It’s a simple routine.

“For Blackpool, I’ve just been driving up and staying over now that we’re at the semi-final stage.”

Before booking his place in the last four, Littler also found time to visit the Trafford Centre, where he picked up Manchester United’s new blue away shirt. He admitted he is encouraged by the club’s recent direction and hopes they can build on the way they finished last season.

“I don’t think I’ll ever change my lifestyle,” he said. “I still enjoy the same things—seeing my friends, going out for food, shopping. That’s just who I am.

“It’s different once you’re on stage because that’s when it’s time to work and produce your best.

“I bought the second kit because the third one isn’t out yet. It’s a nice shirt. We’ve made a few good signings, though we probably need a few more. Hopefully we can carry on from how we finished last season.”