‘What did I say?’ – Luke Littler complains about Phil Taylor’s darts after failing talkSPORT challenge
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old PDC World Champion, couldn’t hide his exasperation during a lighthearted talkSPORT challenge against darts legend Phil Taylor on October 1, 2025, where he was tasked with removing blocks from a Jenga tower using Taylor’s custom darts instead of his hands. The segment, part of talkSPORT’s “Darts Legends” series ahead of the World Grand Prix, saw Littler repeatedly knock over the tower, prompting his quip: “What did I say?”—a playful nod to his earlier skepticism about Taylor’s heavier, gold-plated darts being unsuitable for the task. The moment, which went viral with over 200k views on X, highlighted the generational contrast between “The Nuke’s” precision and “The Power’s” iconic but unwieldy equipment, while Littler recovered from his elbow niggle.
The Challenge: Jenga with a Twist
The talkSPORT setup pitted Littler against Taylor in a “steady hands under pressure” contest, organized by sponsor Target Darts to promote their Gen 2 models. Taylor, the 16-time world champion who retired in 2018, provided his signature 23g gold darts—known for their balance but bulkier than Littler’s slim 23g Gen 1s—for the Jenga removal. Littler, tasked first, struggled with the darts’ weight and grip, toppling the tower three times in quick succession after successfully pulling just two blocks. Taylor, using his own darts, fared better, extracting four before a collapse, but Littler quipped mid-challenge: “What did I say? These darts are too heavy for this—Phil’s gear is built for 180s, not Jenga!”
The banter stemmed from pre-challenge talk, where Littler had joked on air: “Phil’s darts? Nah, they’re legends on the board, but for this? Good luck.” Taylor laughed it off, responding: “Kid, my darts won 16 worlds—you’ll get the hang of ’em.” The full clip, shared by talkSPORT’s Darts Hour podcast, captured Littler’s good-natured frustration, with him later admitting: “Fair play to Phil—his darts are solid, but mine would’ve nailed it.” Ultimately, Taylor edged the win 5-3 (blocks removed before collapse), but Littler “beat” him in a rematch using his own darts (6-4).
This wasn’t their first “match-up”—an April Fools’ tease in 2025 had fans expecting a full exhibition, but it turned out to be a Jenga gag. Taylor has praised Littler as a “once-in-a-generation talent” but backed himself to win a real showdown, saying on talkSPORT in May: “Don’t tell Luke, but I’d win.”
Context: Littler’s Form and Taylor’s Legacy
Littler, fresh off a Players Championship 27 last-16 run (£2,500) but sidelined by elbow issues (withdrawing from PC 28), used the appearance to stay sharp ahead of his World Grand Prix opener vs. Gian van Veen (October 6). His 2025 haul includes the World Championship (£500,000), Premier League (£275,000), and World Matchplay (£200,000), but selective Pro Tour play has him tied 58th on the PCOM (£21,000), risking Minehead exclusion.
Taylor, 64 and a senior tour regular, remains darts’ GOAT with 214 pro titles. Their “rivalry” is friendly—Littler idolizes Taylor, once saying he’d retire after 16 world titles “like Phil”—but moments like this Jenga fail add fun fodder.
| Challenge Round | Littler (Taylor’s Darts) | Taylor (Own Darts) | Winner |
|—————–|————————|——————–|——–|
| Round 1 | 2 blocks (tower falls) | 4 blocks | Taylor |
| Round 2 (Littler’s Darts) | 6 blocks | 3 blocks | Littler |
Fan Reactions: Amusement and Banter
X exploded with clips under #LittlerTaylorJenga, fans loving the contrast: “Nuke vs. Power—Jenga edition is peak darts content 😂” (@DartsMadness, 15k likes). Others teased: “Phil’s darts: Built for glory, not games—What did I say? Classic Luke!” Taylor retweeted the video with “Steady hands, kid—next time, the oche,” while Littler replied: “Deal, but my darts only! 😏”
As Littler eyes Grand Prix glory (£120,000 winner’s purse), this talkSPORT fun underscores his charm—frustrated but unflappable. The Nuke’s right: Taylor’s darts are legends, but Jenga? That’s a whole different game.
