Luke Littler told there’s ‘no chance’ he’ll ever be the GOAT of darts as brutal MVG verdict given

Michael van Gerwen has thrown down the gauntlet to rising darts sensation Luke Littler, firmly stating that the teenager has no chance of surpassing Phil Taylor’s legendary 16 world titles. While excitement continues to build around the 17-year-old, with some pundits speculating he could one day eclipse the darts icon, Van Gerwen remains unconvinced.

The three-time world champion was blunt in his assessment, shutting down any talk of Littler breaking Taylor’s record. Speaking to Sports Boom, the 35-year-old Dutchman, who noted that Taylor secured his final world title at the age of 52, declared: “Don’t talk about the potential of breaking Phil’s records—there is no chance!”

As Van Gerwen gears up for his next appearance at Ally Pally, he took a playful dig at the young star, who is preparing for his second outing at the iconic venue. Littler is set to face ‘The Barber’ Ryan Meikle in the second round on Saturday evening.

Despite his strong stance, Van Gerwen acknowledged the ability of Littler’s opponent: “Ryan Meikle is a good player. Of course, Luke is a massive favorite, but Ryan plays at a slower pace, so you never know—there could be a surprise. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s lost in the first round this year [smirks]. But I still expect him to win.”

Meanwhile, Meikle—ranked 62nd in the world—is embracing the opportunity to take on one of the sport’s most talked-about prospects. After securing a hard-fought 3-2 victory over ‘The Queen of the Palace’ Fallon Sherrock in the first round, he expressed his excitement.

“I’m looking at it as a positive. It’s a great opportunity to play against the guy everyone’s talking about,” Meikle told BBC Radio Suffolk. “I’m not going to sit here and say I’ll win—obviously, I have a chance—but I’m excited and looking forward to it.”