Luke Littler has insisted that he wants to win more world titles than Phil Taylor to establish himself as the greatest darts player of all time. The Nuke has taken the sporting world by storm after becoming the youngest player in history to reach the World Darts Championship final, where he was beaten by Luke Humphries.
Littler has since won titles at the Bahrain Masters and Belgian Open and has been holding his own in the Premier League alongside some of the world’s best players. He is already being tipped as a future great but recently suggested that he could retire after just 10 years if he grows tired of the relentless schedule.
Speaking to The Times last month, 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.”
However, it seems Littler may have already gone back on his plan to retire early after telling The Happy Hour Podcast that he wants to surpass Taylor’s record number of world titles. Quizzed on how many titles he would like to win before he calls it a day, the 17-year-old replied: “I’d love to beat Phil Taylor’s record of 16, so I’d say 18.”
Taylor dominated the sport for the best part of two decades and clinched his first world title 17 years before Littler was even born. However, the Nuke has time on his side and will be hoping to live up to his full potential between now and the end of his career.
He scooped his latest title at the Swedish Darts Festival alongside doubles partner Chris Dobey last weekend, beating Viktor Tingstrom and Dennis Nilsson in the final. It came just days after he suffered a first-round loss to Michael Smith on the eighth night of the Premier League tour, posting an average of less than 98 in a 6-4 defeat.
Littler will renew his rivalry with Humphries in Belfast later this week, with the latter aiming to win his fourth straight Premier League night. Cool Hand recently admitted that Littler and Michael van Gerwen are the only two players who, when firing on all cylinders, can push him all the way.
He said: “If I play my A game there are only a couple of people who can test me in that manner. Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen are the only two, I think, when I’m at my best.”
Meanwhile, the PDC have confirmed that Littler will no longer compete at the Nordic Masters in June. He has withdrawn from the event due to family commitments and will be replaced at the tournament by reigning UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh.