In the electrifying world of professional darts, few names shine as brightly as Luke Littler, the 18-year-old phenom dubbed ‘The Nuke,’ whose meteoric ascent has ignited a fiery debate: could he eclipse the legendary Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, widely regarded as the sport’s greatest of all time? Littler’s recent triumph at the 2025 World Matchplay, where he clinched his sixth major title in just 15 months by defeating James Wade 18-15, has fueled comparisons with Taylor’s unparalleled career. Former professional darter Andy Cornwall added fuel to this ongoing discussion, boldly claiming on the Mission Darts Podcast, “I think Luke Littler might be better than Phil Taylor. I think he’ll win the Grand Slam. I think he’ll win the Worlds.” Yet, Cornwall tempered his enthusiasm, noting Littler’s struggles in short-format events like the Players Championship Finals and European Championship, suggesting, “He’s not the best at short format.”
Littler’s performance at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool was nothing short of spectacular, posting a tournament average of 105.12—the fifth highest in World Matchplay history. This achievement, however, is overshadowed by Taylor’s dominance, as he holds the top four tournament averages, with a staggering 106.31 in 2010. Former pro Matthew Edgar highlighted this disparity, pointing out, “We’re basing that on Phil Taylor’s 25 years in the sport. We’ve only got 18 months of Luke Littler.” Edgar also noted the evolution of equipment, explaining, “Phil Taylor’s 106.31 in 2010—on substandard equipment with bigger wires and more bounce-outs—could be equivalent to a 107 or 108 today.” This comparison underscores the challenge of measuring Littler’s modern-era feats against Taylor’s era of thicker boards and staple-heavy dartboards.
Littler’s journey began with a stunning run to the 2024 PDC World Championship final at age 16, where he fell to Luke Humphries. In 2025, he went one better, defeating Michael van Gerwen to become the youngest world champion in history at 17 years and 347 days. His resume now boasts the Premier League, Grand Slam, World Series Finals, UK Open, and World Matchplay titles, making him the youngest player to complete the PDC Triple Crown. Chris Mason, a former rival of Taylor, emphasized Littler’s work ethic as a key factor in his rise. “Luke has the talent, the ability, the mental strength—and he’s humble,” Mason said on talkSPORT. “He’s finally putting serious hours into studying the game and hitting the practice board. That’s the difference between being world-class and completely dominating.”
The debate over Littler versus Taylor has divided the darts community. Taylor, who retired from the PDC in 2018 after 16 world titles andម
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