Phil Taylor, a living legend in the world of darts, has recently teased a potential mentorship with rising star Luke Littler, a partnership that could send shockwaves through the darting community. However, Taylor, who is regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever graced the oche, has a rather unusual requirement before he agrees to take on this coaching role.
### A Legacy of Dominance
Phil Taylor, famously known as ‘The Power’, is a name synonymous with darts mastery. His career achievements are unmatched; Taylor won an astonishing 16 world titles, an unparalleled record in the sport. During his peak, he dominated the darting world, achieving a string of eight consecutive world championships between 1995 and 2002. His accomplishments were not only defined by his titles but also by his impeccable moments of brilliance. Taylor set a record with 11 televised nine-dart finishes—considered the perfect leg in the game. In a 2010 match against James Wade during the Premier League Darts final, he even managed to hit two nine-dart finishes in the same match, a feat that remains legendary to this day.
But Taylor’s illustrious career has recently seen a poignant turn. Earlier this week, at the age of 64, he officially stepped away from competitive darts after a painful hip injury forced him to withdraw from what was set to be his final tournament. Taylor confessed that the injury had caused him more agony than he had ever experienced, putting a definitive end to his professional playing days. Yet, true to his competitive spirit, Taylor is already eyeing the next chapter: passing on his hard-won expertise to the next generation.
### Coaching on One Unusual Condition
Taylor’s potential mentee, Luke Littler, is only 17 years old but is already making waves in the darts world. Littler’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric; his break-out year has seen him clinch titles at the Premier League Darts and the World Series of Darts Finals, quickly cementing his reputation as a prodigious talent. Recognizing Littler’s potential, Taylor has offered to coach him—but only under one peculiar condition: Taylor wants to move in with Littler temporarily.
During a candid interview with *talkSport*, Taylor outlined his unique approach. “With young Luke, they have asked me if I would sit down with him, and I said, ‘Of course, I will.’ But I would have to go and live with him for a few days, see what he is all about,” Taylor revealed. He emphasized the importance of understanding every aspect of Littler’s routine, from his practice habits to his lifestyle choices.
“If I spent time with him, I would see how he practises, see how he eats and exercises, how he does anything,” Taylor elaborated. His meticulous method would even extend to limiting Littler’s time on video games. “If he’s playing on one of those PlayStations, I would give him a set time—maybe an hour a night or something—and then get ready for the next day. Make sure you aren’t staying up too late and waking up in the morning shattered.”
### Littler’s Rapid Ascent
Littler’s talent became apparent to the broader darts audience last December when he stormed into the final of the World Championship at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace. Although he ultimately fell to Luke Humphries in a 7-4 loss, the young sensation’s performance was enough to solidify his status as one of the sport’s brightest prospects. His resilience showed in the months that followed, with Littler capturing victories in tournaments held in diverse locations such as Bahrain, Austria, Belgium, and Poland, amassing an impressive £1 million in prize earnings.
The young player’s aggressive style and fearless attitude on the oche have drawn comparisons to Taylor himself, adding a layer of intrigue to their potential collaboration. Taylor, who knows better than anyone the sacrifices required to reach the top, believes that mentoring Littler could lead to unprecedented success. He even went as far as suggesting that Littler could retire a wealthy man by the age of 25 if he follows the right guidance.
“Players like Luke have the talent to achieve what I did and more,” Taylor remarked. “With the right training and discipline, he could dominate the sport for years and make a fortune doing it.”
### An Injury Marks the End of an Era
Despite his eagerness to coach, Taylor’s current physical condition has forced him into an unwanted retirement. The former champion has been struggling with a hip issue for the past year. “I’m struggling a bit with my hip. Scar tissue,” Taylor admitted. “Everything was going fine, but then I just did a little too much and apparently I’ve torn my scar tissue. So yeah, it’s a bit painful.”
The injury has been a source of significant discomfort, with Taylor describing it as the worst pain he’s experienced in his life. “Honestly, I’ll be glad when this year is gone,” he said, underscoring the toll that the past twelve months have taken on him.
### A Peek into Littler’s Personal Life
Meanwhile, Littler has found himself in the spotlight not just for his on-stage exploits but for his off-stage antics as well. The young star recently made headlines when he inadvertently revealed a potential new relationship during a live gaming session. While engaged in a virtual boxing match against popular streamer ‘angryginge13’—real name Morgan Burtwistle—a female voice was heard saying, “I’m gonna try and get some sleep because I’m so tired,” over Littler’s microphone. Burtwistle wasted no time in teasing the young dart player, laughingly grilling him about the mystery voice, leaving Littler visibly flustered.
This moment came only three months after Littler’s split from his former girlfriend, Eloise Milburn, who had been a familiar face at his matches since his run to the PDC World Championship final earlier in the year. Despite these distractions, Littler has remained focused on his sport, a trait that Taylor admires and hopes to harness if they form a coaching partnership.
### A Future Legend in the Making?
The prospect of Taylor and Littler working together has the darts community buzzing. With Taylor’s unparalleled knowledge and Littler’s raw talent, the combination could prove to be formidable. Yet, the unconventional nature of Taylor’s coaching demand highlights his deep commitment to producing excellence. For now, fans are left to wonder if Littler will accept the offer and embrace the chance to be mentored by the greatest player the sport has ever seen.
As Phil Taylor steps away from competitive play, his potential role in shaping the next darting sensation could mark a new chapter in his storied career—a move that would ensure his legacy continues to influence the sport he loves. Whether Littler is ready to take on that challenge remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: if he does, darts fans can expect the young star’s career to soar to even greater heights.