Can Luke Littler reach Phil Taylor’s record and one day become the record champion? The first step has been taken since the triumph at the 2025 Darts World Cup. Taylor himself sees several hurdles on the way forward – including the “ManUnited syndrome”.
“If he wants to beat my world record, he can do it,” Phil Taylor told PA Media about Luke Littler.
The 64-year-old noted at the same time: “It will be difficult, because to win 16 titles you have to be in a lot of finals. That’s a lot of darts, a lot of hotels, a lot of traveling miles. He would have to play for the next 20 years to “To get close to my record and for 20 years he has to be committed and make sure he does everything right.”
It’s “difficult when you’re young and have money in the bank. I was 30 when I won for the first time, so I’ve experienced it all myself,” Taylor explained.
Do darts competitors automatically increase?
According to “The Power”, Littler will face highly motivated opponents in the coming years. “You get what I used to call the Man United syndrome – and Liverpool has it too – where everyone raises their game against you, so you have to give your best in every round,” Taylor also knows from personal experience.
“And that can take a toll on you. Especially when you get beaten, because then everyone asks: ‘Why did he lose? What was wrong with him? Why did his bubble burst?’,” the Englishman explained the mental challenges in Top sport.
Littler won the previous World Darts Championship in London in the final 7-3 in sets against Michael van Gerwen. The teenager is already in second place in the world rankings behind Luke Humphries.
Littler has ambitious goals for the upcoming season. However, there is still a long way to go until Taylor has won 16 world titles.