The darts world is no stranger to bold claims and passionate debates about greatness, but when a seasoned professional like **Joe Cullen** steps forward to crown a 19-year-old as potentially the best player the sport has ever seen, ears perk up across the PDC circuit. Luke Littler, the Warrington wonderkid affectionately known as “The Nuke,” has been rewriting the history books at a breathtaking pace, and now one of his rivals has delivered perhaps the strongest endorsement yet of his extraordinary talent.
Joe Cullen, the popular Bradford-based thrower currently sitting around world number 33, has shared the oche with Littler on several occasions. While he did manage a 6-3 victory over the teenager at Players Championship One last year, Cullen has come out on the losing side in their other three meetings. Speaking openly in a recent interview, the experienced campaigner recalled one particular encounter that left a lasting impression.
“I played him last year and I was 5-2 up against him,” Cullen remembered. “He was playing terrible and then he hit an 11-darter, and it was the first time I thought to myself, does he do this on purpose just to give himself a test? I have never felt like that playing anybody else. I’ve played Phil [Taylor] back in the day.”
Cullen described the eerie feeling of holding a comfortable lead only for the momentum to shift in a way that felt almost deliberate. “That is the first time I have felt like that playing somebody. Whereas if you are 5-2 up, you think I will find a leg from somewhere. I just thought, he is messing with me, this lad.”
The Bradford player drew parallels to another memorable comeback, pointing to Littler’s recovery against Josh Rock at the World Matchplay. “He was 5-0 down and with normal players you think they are a long way down. Whereas with him you think he will still win. There are not many players like that.”
For Cullen, this almost playful ability to turn matches around even when struggling sets Littler apart from every other player he has faced. He believes the teenager operates on a level where, at his absolute peak, defeat simply isn’t on the cards.
“It’s a bold statement,” Cullen admitted, “but Littler is the only player — when he plays his top game — he doesn’t lose. Whereas if Van Gerwen did, and maybe Phil as well. But I think even Van Gerwen, when he had that little stint, he could still be beaten. I think Van Gerwen, Humphries, Wade, Gary — if they play their top game — they can still get beaten.”
Cullen was respectful of the sport’s legends, particularly the incomparable **Phil Taylor**, the 16-time world champion whose dominance defined darts for decades. “The only player you can compare him to is Phil [Taylor],” he noted. Yet he suggested that even Taylor in his prime and **Michael van Gerwen** during his most fearsome period could occasionally be toppled on their best days. Littler, by contrast, appears almost unbeatable when he finds his rhythm.
“Littler, I think, has numbers only he is capable of, and it is a scary prospect,” Cullen added, his tone mixing admiration with a touch of resignation. In a separate reflection on the young star’s personality, Cullen offered a glimpse behind the scenes: “He’s incredible… He’s really not [what some fans assume]. He doesn’t speak enough. He’s so shy. He’s so subdued. He’s just very, very good at darts.”
This high praise arrives as Littler continues his meteoric rise. Already the youngest world champion in PDC history, he has claimed two World Darts Championship titles in 2025 and 2026. His trophy haul includes an astonishing 12 major titles and a total of 26 PDC titles in a remarkably short professional career. He currently sits third on the all-time list of major titles won, behind only van Gerwen and Taylor. Recent successes, such as defending titles and delivering breathtaking averages, have only reinforced his status as the sport’s dominant force.
Even when not at his explosive best, Littler demonstrates remarkable mental resilience and the ability to grind out results. His presence alone creates intense psychological pressure on opponents, who know that no lead is safe when the teenager’s scoring power and finishing click into gear. Averages in the 110-120 range have become almost routine for him, leaving veterans shaking their heads in disbelief.
As the 2026 season rolls on, Littler is set to return to action in the Premier League, facing Gian van Veen in Manchester with the chance to strengthen his position at the top of the table. The darts community continues to speculate whether he can eventually eclipse Taylor’s record of 16 world titles, but comments like Cullen’s suggest the conversation has shifted. Many now view Littler not just as a future great, but as someone already operating at a historic level.
Cullen’s perspective carries extra weight because he has competed against both the old guard and the current elite. Having faced Taylor earlier in his career and battled the likes of van Gerwen, Humphries, and others in recent years, his verdict feels grounded in direct experience rather than hype.
Of course, crowning anyone the “greatest ever” after just a couple of years at the top invites debate. Darts has seen multiple eras of supremacy — Taylor’s unparalleled longevity, van Gerwen’s explosive prime, and now Littler’s seemingly effortless brilliance. Factors such as depth of competition, equipment changes, and the modern schedule all play a role in these comparisons. Yet when a battle-hardened pro like Cullen says he has never encountered anyone quite like the Warrington youngster, it forces even the biggest skeptics to pause and reflect.
The sport finds itself in an exciting transitional phase. While veterans like Cullen continue to compete at a high level, a new generation led by Littler is raising the ceiling of what is possible on the oche. Consistency, mental strength, and the ability to produce magic under pressure have always separated the good from the great. Littler appears to possess all three in abundance.
Fans and pundits will keep a close eye on how Littler handles the inevitable pressures that come with being labeled the best. For now, though, Joe Cullen’s candid assessment stands as one of the most striking tributes in recent memory. In a sport built on precision, nerve, and rivalry, being called unbeatable at your peak by a respected peer is the ultimate compliment.
Luke Littler’s journey is still in its early chapters, but if performances continue at this extraordinary standard, the darts history books may soon need rewriting once again — with “The Nuke” firmly at the top of the all-time conversation.