The darts world continues to buzz with awe and debate as the extraordinary talent of **Luke Littler** draws ever more extravagant praise from his fellow professionals. At just 19 years old, the Warrington sensation nicknamed “The Nuke” has already rewritten record books and left hardened veterans searching for words to describe his dominance. Now, another respected voice has joined the chorus in declaring that the teenager may well be the greatest player the sport has ever seen.
**Joe Cullen**, the popular Bradford thrower currently ranked world number 33, has faced Littler on multiple occasions and come away deeply impressed — and occasionally bewildered. Although Cullen managed to defeat the young star 6-3 at Players Championship One last year, he has lost their other three encounters. Speaking candidly to Winmau, Cullen opened up about one particular match that still lingers in his mind.
“I played him last year and I was 5-2 up against him,” Cullen recalled. “He was playing terrible and then he hit an 11-darter, and it was the first time I thought to myself, does he do this on purpose just to give himself a test? I have never felt like that playing anybody else. I’ve played Phil [Taylor] back in the day.”
Cullen went on to describe the surreal sensation of leading against Littler, only to feel the momentum shift in an almost playful manner. “That is the first time I have felt like that playing somebody. Whereas if you are 5-2 up, you think I will find a leg from somewhere. I just thought, he is messing with me, this lad.”
The Bradford player drew a parallel to another famous comeback, noting that Littler pulled off something similar against Josh Rock at the World Matchplay. “He was 5-0 down and with normal players you think they are a long way down. Whereas with him you think he will still win. There are not many players like that.”
For Cullen, this ability to toy with opponents even when seemingly struggling sets Littler apart from everyone else in the modern era. He believes the teenager possesses an almost supernatural level of talent that makes him nearly unbeatable when firing on all cylinders.
“It’s a bold statement,” Cullen admitted, “but Littler is the only player — when he plays his top game — he doesn’t lose. Whereas if Van Gerwen did, and maybe Phil as well. But I think Van Gerwen, Humphries, Wade, Gary — if they play their top game — they can still get beaten.”
Cullen was careful to acknowledge the legends who came before, particularly the incomparable **Phil Taylor**, the 16-time world champion whose longevity and consistency defined an entire generation of darts. “The only player you can compare him to is Phil [Taylor],” he said. Yet he suggested that even in his prime, Taylor and the formidable **Michael van Gerwen** during his dominant spell could occasionally be beaten on their best days. Littler, by contrast, appears to operate on another plane entirely.
“Littler, I think, has numbers only he is capable of, and it is a scary prospect,” Cullen added with clear respect and a hint of resignation. He summed up the young star simply: “Littler, he is just very good at darts.”
This glowing assessment comes as Littler continues his relentless march through the PDC ranks. Already the youngest world champion in history, he has secured two PDC World Darts Championship titles in 2025 and 2026. His trophy cabinet has swelled rapidly, with the 19-year-old surging to third place on the all-time list of major titles won — trailing only van Gerwen and Taylor. He has claimed an astonishing 12 major titles and a total of 26 PDC titles in an incredibly short professional career, showcasing consistency, mental strength, and scoring power that leave opponents and fans alike in disbelief.
Even when not at his absolute peak, Littler has demonstrated the ability to grind out victories and defend titles successfully, including a recent UK Open triumph. His presence on the oche creates a unique psychological pressure; opponents know that no lead is truly safe because the teenager can produce extraordinary checkouts and maximums at will.
As the 2026 season progresses, all eyes remain fixed on Littler. He returns to action in the Premier League on Thursday, facing Gian van Veen in Manchester with the opportunity to extend his lead at the top of the table. The darts community continues to debate whether he can eventually surpass Taylor’s record of 16 world titles, but voices like Cullen’s suggest the conversation has already moved beyond potential — Littler is delivering greatness right now.
Cullen’s comments highlight a broader shift in the sport. For years, darts fans measured excellence against the benchmarks set by Taylor and van Gerwen. Today, a new standard is being established by a teenager who makes the extraordinary look routine. His ability to recover from poor starts, maintain frightening averages, and psychologically unsettle experienced campaigners has many wondering if we are witnessing the dawn of a truly unprecedented era.
While some veterans and pundits remain cautious about crowning anyone the “greatest ever” so early in a career, Cullen’s firsthand experience adds significant weight to the argument. Having shared the stage with Taylor in his own career and competed against the best of the current generation, his verdict carries authority: when Luke Littler is at his best, no one can touch him.
The darts world will keep watching with fascination as Littler chases more silverware. Whether he ultimately eclipses the records of his predecessors remains to be seen, but one thing is already clear — he has earned the profound respect of his peers, and players like Joe Cullen are not afraid to call it as they see it.
In an era of ever-increasing standards and intense competition, Luke Littler stands alone at the summit according to one of the game’s toughest competitors. The Nuke’s journey is far from over, but his impact is already being felt as one of the most transformative talents the sport has ever produced.
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