Luke Littler might be the best darts player in the world right now, but even a player of his extraordinary ability is not immune to criticism. And when 16-time world champion Phil Taylor watched him compete on Netflix’s Beat Luke Littler, something about his performance left him genuinely surprised.
The legendary Englishman was expecting Littler to become increasingly dangerous as the evening progressed. Instead, he noticed something that he believes should never happen to a player of the teenager’s quality.
And considering Taylor’s experience of dominating darts for decades, his comments deserve serious attention.
The Netflix event was supposed to be another opportunity for Littler to demonstrate why he has become one of the biggest names in the sport. With £501,000 on offer to anyone who could beat him in a single leg of 501, the pressure was enormous.
However, the evening eventually produced a result few people expected, with Fallon Sherrock becoming the woman who finally stopped the world number one.
But Taylor’s reaction was particularly interesting because he was not simply talking about Sherrock’s achievement. He was questioning something about Littler’s performance that could spark a serious debate among darts fans.
Phil Taylor Couldn’t Understand Why Luke Littler Wasn’t Getting Stronger
Taylor, who knows better than almost anyone what it takes to dominate professional darts, admitted that he expected Littler to improve as he faced more opponents.
He explained that his own approach, alongside former world champion Adrian Lewis, was very different.
Taylor said:
“I’m being honest with you now, if anything, Luke should have gotten better. I would have got better on the fifth [match].”
He continued by explaining that anyone hoping to beat him or Lewis would have needed to take their opportunity early because the pair traditionally became stronger as matches progressed.
That is an interesting observation, particularly because Littler is not an inexperienced youngster struggling to establish himself anymore.
He is a two-time world champion who has already demonstrated that he can handle enormous pressure on the biggest stages.
Yet Taylor clearly expected to see a different progression from him throughout the Netflix challenge.
And this is where the discussion becomes interesting.
Fallon Sherrock Exposed Something Nobody Expected
The format of Beat Luke Littler was simple but brutal.
Twenty selected contestants had the opportunity to face the teenage superstar, with each needing to win just one leg of 501 to walk away with £501,000.
Littler successfully dealt with challenge after challenge, but the pressure eventually caught up with him.
Fallon Sherrock, famously known as the Queen of the Palace, became the woman who ended his run.
The 32-year-old produced a brilliant checkout of 43, using treble 7 and double 20, to secure the extraordinary jackpot.
It was a remarkable moment for Sherrock, who has already made history in darts by becoming the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Championship in 2019.
However, some people had questioned whether she deserved a place in the competition because of her experience and reputation.
Taylor was having none of that criticism.
He was delighted with her achievement and made it clear that she deserved the opportunity just like everybody else.
He also highlighted the significance of the money, explaining that the £501,000 could allow Sherrock to purchase a house and provide long-term financial security for herself and her young son.
For Taylor, that was something worth celebrating rather than complaining about.
And frankly, he has a point. Why should someone be criticised for taking an opportunity that was available to them under the competition’s rules?
Sherrock earned her place, stepped up when it mattered and delivered the winning darts.
That is what competition is supposed to be about.
Luke Littler’s Performance Raises An Interesting Question
Here is where Taylor’s comments could become uncomfortable for Littler.
The teenager has built his reputation on extraordinary scoring power, relentless 180s and an ability to dismantle opponents regardless of the occasion.
His achievements have only strengthened his reputation.
He has broken records, won major tournaments and established himself as the player everybody wants to beat.
That is the standard people have come to expect from him.
But the Netflix challenge showed that even the best players can have difficult evenings.
Taylor’s observation was not necessarily that Littler is suddenly a bad player. It was that his level should have improved as he became more comfortable with the challenge.
That is a fair criticism, especially when you consider the mentality required to remain at the top of professional darts.
The best players do not simply rely on talent. They find ways to raise their standards when the pressure increases.
Taylor believes that is precisely what he and Adrian Lewis used to do.
And if Littler wants to be compared with the greatest players in darts history, those expectations will always follow him.
Adrian Lewis Also Had Questions About Littler
Taylor was not the only former world champion who noticed something unusual.
Adrian Lewis also questioned Littler’s performance and wondered whether the teenager might have become bored during the competition.
Lewis suggested that the nervousness of some early challengers could have affected the rhythm of the contest, with Littler potentially needing a tougher opening challenge to get fully into his game.
That is another interesting angle.
Littler is accustomed to facing elite professionals who punish even the smallest mistakes. Playing a succession of challengers in a television entertainment format is a very different experience.
But should that really be an excuse?
The world number one knew exactly what he had signed up for, and the £501,000 prize meant every opponent had a genuine reason to give him the toughest possible challenge.
Lewis was also impressed by the production of the Netflix event and suggested that some of its presentation features could be adopted by the PDC.
Is Luke Littler Being Judged By A Different Standard?
There is an uncomfortable truth about Littler’s rise to superstardom.
He has been so exceptional that anything below his usual standards immediately becomes a talking point.
When he wins, people expect him to win. When he struggles, people start questioning his mentality, concentration and ability to handle pressure.
That might seem unfair for a 19-year-old, but it is also the price of becoming the biggest attraction in your sport.
Taylor understands those expectations better than most.
He spent years dominating darts and knows that maintaining greatness is often more difficult than achieving it in the first place.
However, I would argue that Littler should not face exaggerated criticism because he lost a single leg to Sherrock.
A one-leg shootout is not the same as a tournament final played over multiple sets. Even the greatest players in history can lose a single leg when their opponent produces the right finish.
Sherrock deserves enormous credit, but one defeat does not suddenly erase everything Littler has achieved.
At the same time, Taylor’s observation should not be dismissed. If Littler wants to reach the level of Taylor’s legendary career, he must continue developing the mentality that allows champions to raise their game when the pressure increases.
The biggest question is whether this was simply an unusual night for Littler or an indication that he still has something to learn about handling different competitive situations.
One thing is certain: Taylor has given darts fans plenty to debate, and Littler will have another opportunity to remind everybody why he is considered the man to beat.
Because being a superstar is one thing. Staying there and continually proving yourself is another.
And if Taylor’s standards are anything to go by, Littler has a lot more expectations waiting for him.