Luke Littler Makes Stunning Admission About Matching Phil Taylor’s Three World Titles
Luke Littler has never been a player who shies away from the biggest conversations in darts. At an age when most professional players are still trying to establish themselves, the Englishman is already being compared with some of the greatest names the sport has ever produced.
But there is something particularly interesting about his response to the possibility of matching Phil Taylor’s extraordinary achievement of winning three consecutive PDC World Championship titles. For a player who has spent the last two years rewriting expectations, Littler’s apparent lack of interest in that particular milestone makes for a fascinating talking point.
The comparison with Taylor is inevitable. After all, The Power dominated darts for years, building a legacy that remains the standard against which every new generation is measured. However, Littler appears to have a different way of looking at what success actually means.
The latest comments are particularly interesting because Littler is approaching another opportunity to make history. Having won the 2025 and 2026 PDC World Championships, he will attempt to become only the fifth player to win three consecutive editions when the next tournament begins.
That would put him alongside an extremely exclusive group of champions, including Taylor, who remains the benchmark for sustained excellence in the sport.
Littler Still Has Enormous Respect for Phil Taylor
Despite the comparisons, Littler has never been particularly comfortable declaring himself the greatest player of all time.
That attitude was evident in an interview published by The Sun on November 10, 2026, when he was asked whether another Phil Taylor could ever emerge.
Littler was presented with several leading names from the sport, including Peter Wright, James Wade, Rob Cross, Nathan Aspinall, Gary Anderson, Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries and Raymond van Barneveld.
He remained silent as those names were mentioned, but stopped the interviewer when Taylor’s name came up.
“I’ll give Phil that one. Best ever.
“And people say Michael’s better, people say Phil’s better.
“What Phil done on TV, think he’s got a record of 11 televised nine-darters, 16 World Championships, 16 World Matchplays. Numerous World Cups. He’s won everything.”
The interviewer then asked whether there would ever be another Phil Taylor.
Littler’s response was remarkably straightforward.
“Probably not. Definitely not me.”
It was a revealing answer from someone who is already being discussed as a potential successor to the greatest champion the sport has produced.
Why Phil Taylor Remains the Ultimate Benchmark
To understand why Littler’s comments matter, it is worth looking at exactly what Taylor accomplished.
The Power won 16 world championship titles during his remarkable career, including 14 in the PDC and two under the BDO banner.
His dominance was particularly extraordinary between 1995 and 2002, when he won eight consecutive PDC World Championships.
That achievement demonstrates the level of consistency required to dominate darts across different generations of opponents.
Taylor also collected 16 World Matchplay titles and established himself as the defining figure of professional darts for decades.
His influence extended beyond trophies. He helped transform the sport into a major television attraction, attracting new audiences and setting standards that subsequent generations have attempted to match.
Even after retirement from regular professional competition in 2018, his name remains central to conversations about greatness.
Littler understands that history, which perhaps explains why he is reluctant to accept comparisons simply because he has enjoyed an incredible start to his career.
Littler Is Already Building an Extraordinary Legacy
However, there is no denying that Littler has achieved something special.
His breakthrough at the 2024 World Championship announced his arrival to a much wider audience. At just 16, he reached the final against Luke Humphries, eventually losing 7-4.
Rather than allowing that disappointment to define him, he returned the following year and defeated Michael van Gerwen 7-3 to become the youngest PDC world champion in history.
That victory was followed by another remarkable campaign.
On January 3, 2026, Littler defeated Gian van Veen 7-1 in the final at Alexandra Palace to retain his world championship crown.
The performance was particularly impressive because he controlled the contest after Van Veen made a strong start.
Littler averaged 106.02 and demonstrated the scoring power and composure that have made him such a difficult opponent.
According to BBC Sport, he became just the fourth player to win consecutive PDC World Championships, joining Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson.
That is already an extraordinary achievement for someone so young.
And with another championship approaching, the possibility of a third consecutive victory has become one of the biggest talking points in darts.
The Three-Year Challenge Could Be Another Historic Moment
Winning one world championship is difficult enough. Defending it is even harder because every opponent arrives knowing they have an opportunity to make a statement against the reigning champion.
Winning three consecutive titles requires something different altogether.
It demands consistency, mental strength, preparation and the ability to perform under enormous pressure across several weeks.
Littler has already demonstrated that he can handle the expectations that come with being world number one.
However, the competition is getting stronger, and players such as Humphries, Van Veen, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson will all have their own ambitions.
Nobody is going to hand Littler another trophy simply because he has won the previous two.
That is what makes the upcoming championship so fascinating.
If he succeeds, he will strengthen his position among the greatest players of his generation and add another significant achievement to an already remarkable career.
It would also bring him closer to the conversation surrounding Taylor’s historic dominance, although matching eight consecutive world titles would remain a considerably bigger challenge.
Can Anyone Really Match Phil Taylor?
This is where Littler’s comments deserve some appreciation.
There is a tendency in modern sport to rush into comparisons between young superstars and legends who spent decades building their reputations.
Littler is undoubtedly one of the most naturally gifted players darts has ever produced, but Taylor’s achievements were built over an extraordinary period of sustained excellence.
The 16 world titles are only part of the story. His dominance across numerous competitions, his longevity and his influence on the sport make his record particularly difficult to approach.
Littler has time on his side, but nobody knows how long he will maintain his current level or how many years he will remain at the top.
That is why his refusal to describe himself as the next Taylor is refreshing.
He appears more interested in collecting trophies and enjoying his career than spending time trying to convince everyone that he has already surpassed a legend.
And honestly, that is probably the right approach.
Littler Has Another Opportunity to Make History
For now, Littler’s attention will be on defending his Grand Slam of Darts title before turning his focus towards another attempt at world championship glory.
He begins his Grand Slam defence against Beau Greaves in Wolverhampton, with the tournament running from November 14 to November 22.
After that, the spotlight will return to Alexandra Palace, where he will attempt to make history once again.
Whether he eventually approaches Taylor’s 16 world titles remains an enormous question.
But one thing is becoming increasingly difficult to argue against: Littler is already building a legacy that few players could ever imagine.
His latest comments also show that he understands the difference between being an exceptional talent and becoming an all-time great.
Do you agree with Littler that there will probably never be another Phil Taylor, or could The Nuke eventually prove everyone wrong?