Luke Littler, a rising star in the darts world, has quickly made a name for himself, with fans and commentators alike marveling at his immense talent and potential. At just 17 years old, Littler has already achieved significant success in the sport, finishing top of the Premier League table ahead of the upcoming play-offs in London, and clinching the runner-up spot at the World Championship. His fast start to his career has many wondering if he could one day challenge the legendary Phil Taylor for the title of the greatest darts player of all time.
However, not everyone is convinced that Littler will follow in Taylor’s footsteps. Rob Cross, a former World Champion and one of the sport’s top players, has cast doubt on Littler’s long-term prospects. Cross believes that while the young star has shown incredible promise, he will struggle to match Taylor’s unrivaled achievements and longevity in the sport.
Littler’s accomplishments to date are nothing short of impressive. He has already won four Premier League nights this season, an achievement that has never been accomplished by any other player in the competition’s history. He has shown the kind of skill, precision, and composure on the big stage that many seasoned players only dream of. Littler’s ability to perform at such a high level at such a young age has left many in awe, and his name has been mentioned in the same breath as some of the greatest players to ever play the game.
Despite his early success, however, Rob Cross is cautious about making any grand predictions regarding Littler’s future. While Cross acknowledges the young player’s exceptional talent, he does not believe Littler will be able to match the accomplishments of Phil Taylor, a player who is often considered the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of darts. Taylor’s dominance in the sport is unparalleled, with 16 World Championship titles and a staggering 85 major tournament victories to his name. His reign over the sport lasted more than two decades, and even as he prepares to retire from professional darts at the end of the 2024 Senior Darts Tour season, his legacy remains unchallenged.
Taylor’s success was built on his remarkable consistency and dominance across all formats, with an ability to perform under pressure and maintain a high standard of play year after year. His first World Championship win came in 1990, and he went on to become the face of darts, dominating the sport with a level of consistency and excellence that has yet to be replicated. Littler, with his immense talent and early success, could potentially emulate Taylor’s achievements in terms of tournament wins and championship titles, but Cross believes that the teenager’s aspirations might be limited by his own approach to the sport.
In an interview with *Sportslens*, Cross explained why he believes no player, including Littler, will ever match Taylor’s accomplishments. “Phil won so much, didn’t he? He was so dominant. We weren’t talking about dominance for 10 years, it was probably 20,” Cross said. “I don’t think the big guy will ever get toppled like that. Some of his tournament averages are just incredible. I think he played the European Championship and had a tournament average of 112. Most people would want to hit that in one game, no matter whether it’s five or six legs. It’s just amazing. I don’t think that will ever get beat, and I don’t think anyone will ever match him again. When you see all that he has won, that remains hugely impressive.”
Phil Taylor’s achievements are not just a product of his ability to win tournaments, but also his unparalleled consistency in maintaining a high level of play over an extended period. Cross suggests that Littler, like many others, will find it difficult to sustain that level of dominance, particularly with his desire for a shorter career. This brings us to an interesting aspect of Littler’s career trajectory that might ultimately hinder his ability to challenge Taylor’s standing in the sport: his attitude towards longevity.
Littler has already expressed a desire for a relatively short career in darts. Despite his early success and meteoric rise, he has hinted at retiring from the sport after 10 to 15 years if he has “had enough.” In an interview with *The Times* earlier this year, Littler said, “I’ve been playing a long time in the juniors, in the old British Darts Federation. I might just do 10 or 15 years and retire, if I’ve had enough.”
This statement suggests that Littler is not interested in playing for the same length of time as Taylor, who played professionally for over 30 years. His comments indicate that while he is focused on dominating the sport for as long as he enjoys it, he may not have the same drive to build a decades-long career. This mindset, according to Cross, could prevent Littler from reaching the level of accomplishment that Taylor achieved.
For Cross, the combination of Taylor’s longevity, consistency, and extraordinary level of performance is what makes him an irreplaceable figure in the history of darts. While Littler has the talent to potentially win major tournaments and establish himself as one of the sport’s top players, his shorter-term focus might limit his ability to achieve the kind of sustained dominance that Taylor achieved.
Despite the concerns raised by Cross, it is clear that Littler has already established himself as a major force in darts. His youth, combined with his natural ability and early success, suggests that he has the potential to achieve great things in the sport. Whether he chooses to follow in Taylor’s footsteps and pursue a lengthy career or decides to make his mark in a shorter period, Littler’s future in darts looks promising.
Ultimately, the comparison between Littler and Taylor is one that highlights the incredible success and dominance of the latter, while also acknowledging the potential of the former. While Rob Cross may doubt Littler’s ability to replicate Taylor’s achievements, only time will tell whether the young star can break new ground and carve out his own legacy in the sport of darts.