In the electrifying world of darts, where precision meets passion, few names have shone as brightly as Luke Littler, the teenage prodigy who has taken the sport by storm. At just 18, Littler has already etched his name into the history books as the youngest PDC World Champion, a title he claimed with a commanding 7-3 victory over Michael van Gerwen in January 2025. His meteoric rise has sparked endless debates, with fans and pundits alike drawing parallels to the legendary Phil Taylor, the 16-time world champion whose dominance redefined the game. But not everyone is convinced that Littler’s star burns as fiercely as Taylor’s did in his prime. Enter Adrian Lewis, a two-time world champion and one of Taylor’s fiercest rivals, who recently delivered a stinging assessment that has set tongues wagging across the darting community.
Lewis, now 40 and a seasoned veteran of the oche, didn’t mince words when asked to weigh in on the Littler-Taylor comparison. “Definitely [Taylor’s peak was higher],” he declared, his tone carrying the authority of someone who battled the best in their heyday. “I don’t know who is saying these comments, but they mustn’t know that much about darts if they haven’t seen Phil at his best.” For Lewis, the idea that Littler—or any modern player—could match Taylor’s relentless brilliance is a stretch too far. It’s a bold stance, one that dismisses the hype surrounding Littler’s extraordinary talent and reignites the eternal debate about eras in darts.
Picture the scene: it’s the early 2000s, and Phil Taylor is an unstoppable force, a colossus striding across the dartboard with an aura that intimidated opponents before a single arrow was thrown. Lewis remembers it well. “It’s a leg-on-leg pressure what Phil Taylor used to do to you,” he explained, painting a vivid picture of a player who thrived on breaking spirits as much as he did on hitting doubles. Taylor’s game wasn’t just about raw skill—it was a psychological onslaught, a masterclass in consistency that left little room for error. Lewis argues that even Littler’s dazzling highs don’t yet eclipse Taylor’s ability to maintain an unrelenting standard, even on an off day. “Looking at Luke at the World Championship, his high would be obviously above Phil’s, but his mediocre wasn’t as good as Phil’s B game,” he said. “That’s when Phil would pounce on you.”
Littler’s journey, though, is a marvel in its own right. At 16, he stormed to the World Championship final in 2024, only to fall to Luke Humphries. A year later, he returned to Alexandra Palace and conquered it, silencing doubters with a display of poise and power that belied his age. Since then, he’s added the Premier League title to his resume and racked up a string of victories that have made him a household name. His ability to perform under pressure has drawn inevitable comparisons to Taylor, who once ruled darts with an iron fist. Yet Lewis, who faced Taylor at his peak, insists the gulf remains wide. “We’ve all witnessed this and have been in front of it many times,” he said, nodding to the countless players who wilted under Taylor’s gaze.
Still, Lewis isn’t blind to Littler’s gifts. He’s quick to tip his hat to the teenager’s knack for toppling giants, a trait that’s already seen him outshine some of the sport’s biggest names. “He’s already managed to find a way to beat some of his strongest rivals,” Lewis acknowledged, a rare smile breaking through his stern critique. It’s a nod to Littler’s fearless approach—whether it’s staring down Van Gerwen or trading blows with Humphries, the kid from Warrington doesn’t flinch. But for Lewis, that’s not enough to bridge the chasm to Taylor’s era. “I could only feel [that aura] with Phil Taylor and MVG in the practice room,” he mused, suggesting that Littler’s presence, while formidable, hasn’t yet reached the intimidating heights of those titans.
The darts world thrives on these clashes of opinion, and Lewis’s comments have only fueled the fire. At 18, Littler has decades ahead to chase Taylor’s records—16 world titles, 16 World Matchplay crowns, a legacy that looms like a mountain over the sport. Whether he can scale it remains a question for the future. For now, he’s a sensation rewriting the script, drawing crowds and inspiring a new generation. Lewis’s ruthless dismissal might sting, but it’s also a challenge—a gauntlet thrown down by a man who knows what it takes to stand toe-to-toe with greatness. As Littler continues his ascent, the echoes of Taylor’s reign will linger, a benchmark that’s as much a motivator as it is a shadow. One thing’s certain: the darts universe won’t stop watching.