MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has delivered a frank and measured response to claims that Luke Littler is already the greatest darts player of all time.
The debate erupted after Littler’s dramatic World Masters victory over Luke Humphries in Milton Keynes, with Humphries declaring in the aftermath that the 19-year-old was “the greatest darts player that’s ever lived.” The comment sent shockwaves through the sport and reignited long-running GOAT discussions involving Phil Taylor and Van Gerwen himself.
Asked for his view, Van Gerwen was characteristically honest, praising Littler’s extraordinary talent while firmly resisting the idea that greatness can be decided so early.
“He’s an unbelievable player,” Van Gerwen said. “What he’s doing at his age is very special, and nobody can take that away from him. But calling someone the greatest of all time is about longevity, dominance over many years, and what you win across your whole career.”
The three-time world champion stressed that darts history cannot be condensed into a short period, no matter how spectacular the performances.
“You have to respect what Phil Taylor did, what he achieved over decades,” Van Gerwen continued. “Those records weren’t set overnight. Luke has the potential to reach that level, absolutely, but he’s still at the beginning.”
Van Gerwen also acknowledged that Littler is already changing the standards on tour, forcing established stars to raise their level.
“He puts pressure on everyone,” he said. “If you drop even slightly against him, you’re in trouble. That’s something only the very best players do.”
Despite pushing back on the GOAT label, Van Gerwen made it clear that he sees Littler as a long-term rival rather than a fleeting sensation.
“He’s not a one-season wonder,” Van Gerwen added. “He’s here to stay, and that’s good for darts.”
The Dutchman’s verdict closely mirrors Littler’s own stance. The teenager has repeatedly played down talk of all-time greatness, insisting he cannot be mentioned alongside Taylor unless he surpasses his haul of 16 world titles.
For Van Gerwen, the message is simple: admiration without exaggeration.
“Let him play, let him grow, and let his career speak for itself,” he said. “If he keeps doing this for 10, 15 years, then we can have that conversation properly.”
For now, Van Gerwen believes Littler represents darts’ present and future — but the past, he insists, still carries too much weight to be brushed aside.
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