Phil Taylor was quick to salute Luke Littler after the teenage sensation claimed another World Darts Championship title at Alexandra Palace.
Littler cemented his status as the dominant force in modern darts by successfully defending the Sid Waddell Trophy, producing a commanding performance on the sport’s biggest stage to secure back-to-back world titles and the historic £1 million winner’s prize.
Moments after the final dart was thrown, darts legend Taylor reached out to congratulate the 18-year-old, sending an immediate message that underlined the respect between the sport’s past and present.
While Taylor’s exact words were kept private, Littler later confirmed he had received a personal message from the 16-time world champion, describing it as a special moment given Taylor’s iconic status in the game.
The acknowledgment from “The Power” carries huge weight in darts, with Taylor widely regarded as the greatest player the sport has ever seen. His swift congratulations were seen by many fans as a symbolic passing of the torch to the new generation led by Littler.
Littler has often spoken of his admiration for Taylor and has previously described matching — or even approaching — the legend’s record-breaking achievements as the ultimate benchmark in his career.
With back-to-back world titles secured before his 20th birthday, Littler has already begun to draw comparisons with Taylor’s dominance, though both players have stressed the importance of perspective given the longevity and consistency required to match such a legacy.
As celebrations continue following Littler’s latest triumph, the message from Taylor served as another reminder of just how significant the achievement was — recognition from the sport’s greatest, delivered almost instantly after darts history was made.
