At just 19 years old, Luke Littler has already rewritten what is considered possible in professional darts. The teenage sensation has surged to the very top of the sport, collecting major titles at a staggering rate and establishing himself as one of the most feared competitors on the circuit. Yet despite his near-flawless rise, experts believe there is still one area of the game that continues to challenge him — a rare vulnerability in an otherwise dominant career.
Nicknamed “The Nuke,” Littler’s achievements at such a young age are almost unheard of. He has already amassed ten major titles, lifted multiple televised trophies, and claimed back-to-back World Championship crowns, including a commanding victory in the most recent final to secure the sport’s biggest prize. His scoring power, fearless approach, and natural confidence have drawn comparisons with the very best players the game has ever seen. For many observers, it feels as though Littler is already close to “completing darts” before his career has truly begun.
However, former professional and respected analyst Paul Nicholson believes there is still one weakness that stands out — Littler’s performances in short-format major events, particularly those staged in Germany. While Littler regularly dominates in longer formats where quality tends to rise over time, shorter matches allow little margin for error, and slow starts can quickly end a title challenge.
Nicholson explained that in these formats, even elite players are vulnerable. “The other majors are all over the shorter formats where the longest matches will be best-of-21 legs, and even for a player as good as Littler, getting off to a poor start can prove fatal,” he said. According to Nicholson, this is the one environment where Littler has repeatedly struggled to fully impose himself.
The European Championship was highlighted as the clearest example. Littler has suffered early exits in recent editions of the tournament, including first- and second-round defeats. In those matches, he failed to hit the kind of three-figure averages that have become routine elsewhere in his game. “Of these majors, the only one he’s repeatedly struggled in is the European Championship,” Nicholson noted, pointing out how unusual that is given Littler’s dominance across almost every other event.
Some analysts believe the issue isn’t scoring power — which remains among the best in the world — but efficiency under immediate pressure. In short formats, missed doubles or a single poor leg can swing momentum instantly, and more experienced opponents are often ruthless when chances appear. It’s a thin line, but at the very highest level, those small details can decide tournaments.
Despite highlighting this weakness, Nicholson was quick to stress that it is far from a long-term concern. In fact, he expects Littler to soon tick off the final major titles missing from his collection, starting with the Winmau World Masters. Littler opened his campaign in that event in devastating form, averaging over 104 in his early matches without dropping a single set — a reminder of how overwhelming he can be when fully locked in.
“It’s remarkable to think that he’s almost completed darts yet barely started his career,” Nicholson added, suggesting that Littler may soon need new challenges to stay motivated. One possible target could be breaking long-standing performance records, including the highest televised averages ever recorded. While those marks remain intact for now, Littler’s trajectory suggests they may not be safe for long.
Ultimately, Luke Littler’s so-called “biggest weakness” only exists because his standards are already so high. Few players in history have dominated the sport at any age the way he has at 19. If short-format events are the final hurdle standing between him and total dominance, most believe it’s only a matter of time before that gap disappears too — and when it does, darts may be witnessing the rise of a true all-time great.
Leave a Reply