Luke Littler ‘Hasn’t Raised the Bar’, Says Gary Anderson as False Narrative Is Highlighted
Gary Anderson has pushed back against the growing narrative that Luke Littler has single-handedly raised the standard of professional darts, insisting the overall level of the sport has remained largely unchanged.
Littler’s meteoric rise has been one of the most talked-about stories in darts history. Since bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old, the teenage sensation has gone on to win back-to-back World Darts Championships, dominate the Premier League, and establish himself as the sport’s biggest commercial draw. Many observers have claimed his emergence represents a new era — one in which standards have dramatically increased.
But Anderson, a two-time world champion and one of the most respected voices in the game, believes that perception is misleading.
Speaking candidly, the 55-year-old rejected the idea that Littler — or the current crop of young players — has taken darts to a new level.
“The level hasn’t gone up,” Anderson said. “It’s exactly the same as what us older lads were doing years ago.”
According to Anderson, what has changed is not quality, but quantity. Where once only a small group of elite players could consistently average over 100 on the big stage, that level of performance is now far more widespread across the tour.
“Before, you maybe had 15 or 20 players who could hit those averages,” he explained. “Now you’ve got 100-plus who can do it. That doesn’t mean the bar’s higher — it just means more players are capable of reaching it.”
The Flying Scot was quick to stress that his comments should not be taken as criticism of Littler, who he acknowledged is an exceptional talent and fully deserving of his success. Instead, Anderson believes the current hype risks rewriting history and overlooking what previous generations achieved.
“People talk like this is something new, but it isn’t,” he added. “Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, myself — we were putting up those numbers years ago. The averages haven’t suddenly jumped.”
Littler, who defeated Gian van Veen in the youngest World Championship final in history earlier this month, has become the face of darts’ new generation. His rapid success, combined with his age and marketability, has fuelled claims that he represents a step-change for the sport.
Van Veen himself suggested as much after the final, declaring that “this game is for the young players now.”
Anderson, however, sees that as part of the sport’s natural evolution rather than a revolution. Improvements in practice routines, data analysis, and competitive opportunities have allowed more players to reach elite standards — but not necessarily surpass them.
The Scot also pointed to the relentless modern schedule as a major factor in why he has scaled back his own appearances, particularly in events such as the Premier League.
“It’s not just one night a week,” Anderson said. “It’s 16 weeks of travelling, preparation, playing, then moving on again. That’s tough, especially as you get older.”
Despite stepping away from the Premier League, Anderson remains competitive at the highest level and recently reached the semi-finals of the World Championship — further evidence, in his view, that the so-called old guard is far from finished.
While Littler continues to dominate headlines and redefine what is possible commercially in darts, Anderson’s comments serve as a reminder that today’s brilliance is built on foundations laid long before.
The bar, he insists, was already high — it’s just more crowded now.
