Luke Littler’s rapid rise has already rewritten large parts of darts history, but as the teenager continues to dominate the modern game, one major obstacle stands between him and matching — or surpassing — the all-time records set by Phil Taylor.
At just 18 years old, Littler has already achieved what most players can only dream of. His emphatic 7–1 victory over Gian van Veen in the PDC World Darts Championship final at Alexandra Palace secured his second consecutive world title and confirmed his status as the sport’s brightest star. Along with the historic triumph came a record-breaking £1 million prize, the biggest payout the tournament has ever seen.
Yet despite his extraordinary success, comparisons with Phil Taylor remain unavoidable. Taylor’s legacy looms over every dominant darts player, not just because of his 16 world titles, but because of the sheer longevity and authority with which he ruled the sport. While Littler is collecting trophies at an unprecedented pace for someone his age, experts and former figures within the game believe the challenge he faces today is fundamentally different from the one Taylor encountered.
Modern darts is deeper, faster, and far more competitive. Littler’s era is packed with elite talent capable of winning majors on any given weekend. Rivals such as Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Josh Rock and a wave of fearless young contenders mean that sustained dominance is harder than ever. One respected voice from within the sport summed it up by saying that while Littler is currently the best player in the world, no one is likely to dominate in the same way Taylor once did — not because of a lack of ability, but because the overall standard has risen so dramatically.
This depth is what many see as Littler’s biggest obstacle. Taylor often imposed his will over long stretches of seasons, sometimes appearing untouchable as he collected titles year after year. Littler, by contrast, must maintain his level against opponents who are constantly pushing boundaries, averaging higher and showing greater consistency than players from previous generations.
The record now under the spotlight isn’t just Taylor’s world title tally. It’s his astonishing longevity at the very top. Taylor spent an extraordinary amount of time as world number one, setting a benchmark that requires years — potentially decades — of sustained excellence to challenge. Littler currently leads the PDC Order of Merit and has spoken openly about his desire to remain at the summit for as long as possible. “It’s not just about winning titles,” he has said. “It’s about staying there.”
That ambition highlights the scale of the task ahead. Remaining world number one in the modern era demands relentless focus, physical endurance and mental resilience. Injuries, burnout and constant competition all pose threats to long-term dominance. Littler has already shown remarkable composure for someone so young, but even he has acknowledged that matching Taylor’s achievements would require maintaining his current standards for many years.
Still, Littler’s accomplishments already place him in rare company. By defending his world title at 18, he joined an exclusive group of players who have managed the feat. Across a single season, he has captured multiple major trophies, delivered record-breaking averages and produced performances that seasoned professionals struggle to live with. His scoring power, confidence on the big stage and fearless approach have captivated fans and transformed expectations of what young players can achieve.
Yet Taylor’s legacy was built on more than brilliance — it was built on consistency. Year after year, tournament after tournament, he set the benchmark everyone else chased. Littler himself has admitted that catching Taylor’s world title record would be “incredibly difficult,” adding that the game today simply doesn’t allow for prolonged domination in the same way.
As Littler looks ahead to the rest of the season — including the Premier League and major ranking events — the conversation around his career has shifted. He is no longer seen as just a prodigy or a breakout star. He is now measured against the greatest the sport has ever known.
Whether modern darts will allow Luke Littler to carve out a reign comparable to Phil Taylor’s remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the teenager has already altered the sport’s landscape. Records may fall, new benchmarks may be set, but Taylor’s era stands as the ultimate challenge — and that, more than anything, is the hurdle Littler must overcome in his pursuit of darts immortality.
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