"Hopefully when he does, I'll be dead and gone": Phil Taylor says Luke Littler can break tally of record breaking World Championship crowns

Phil Taylor, the greatest darts player of all time, has for the first time openly admitted that his historic record of sixteen world titles is under serious threat.

According to “The Power,” Luke Littler “has a bloody good chance” of surpassing him one day. The now 65-year-old Englishman spoke with admiration about the just 18-year-old superstar, who claimed his second consecutive world title in early January in emphatic fashion.

Taylor, who won the world title sixteen times in his career (twice with the BDO and fourteen times with the PDC), was untouchable on the big stage for years. Within darts, his record was always seen as virtually unbreakable. Yet the rise of Luke Littler seems to have planted doubt even in the mind of the most successful player ever.

Speaking to SunSport, Taylor left little to the imagination. With his trademark humor, but also clear admiration, he said: “I think he’s got a bloody good chance, I’ll be honest with you. If I don’t get him shot on the way!"

He added with a laugh: “Well, hopefully, when he does break my records, I’ll be dead and gone. So I won’t have to listen to anybody else saying it! But if anybody’s got a chance, it’s definitely him, that’s for sure.

Taylor thus acknowledges something that until recently seemed unthinkable. When he won his sixteenth world title in 2013, it was a sporting achievement that stood far above the darts world. Sixteen world titles in one sport appeared forever out of reach for future generations. But Littler, who doesn’t turn 19 until 01/21/2026, seems to be making history at an unprecedented pace.

The trigger for Taylor’s remarks was Littler’s dominant display at the World Darts Championship in early January. In the final he left Gian van Veen without a chance: 7-1. Taylor was impressed. “Luke smashed Gian in the final. Absolutely smashed him. Steamrolled him. He’s on another planet at the minute. Let’s be honest. The lad’s playing brilliantly.

According to Taylor, it’s not just Littler’s scoring power that makes him special, but above all his mental strength. “He handles pressure so well. In all my years in darts, I honestly haven’t seen anyone stay this cool in the biggest moments.”

Taylor stressed that Littler’s ability to handle tension may be his greatest weapon. “He takes pressure really, really well. In fact, all the years I’ve played darts, he probably takes the pressure better than anybody I’ve ever seen, to be honest.

“Whether that’s because he’s young or, I don’t know, he’s just majorly confident. He’s brilliant. I can’t fault him.”

Littler is currently on an impressive 20-match winning streak that began at the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton on November 8. This week he is in action at the Bahrain Darts Masters, where he is once again among the top favorites.

The eternal debate among darts fans—who is the greatest of all time?—was of course put to Taylor as well. Could Littler have beaten Taylor at his absolute peak?

Taylor remained strikingly modest. “It would have been a cracker. It would have been a brilliant game. I honestly think at my best and his best it’s 50-50. I really do."

To clarify his point, Taylor drew a comparison with boxing: “It’s like would Muhammad Ali beat Tyson Fury? Whoever’s the best on the day, I suppose."

While many believe Littler has unprecedented natural ability, Taylor sees the biggest difference between them there. “He has more pure talent than I ever had, I’ll openly admit that,” said Taylor.

But he immediately added a caveat: “My strength was always hard work. I’d spend hours and hours practicing. If talent doesn’t work hard, hard work will always beat talent.”

Taylor also admitted his own career wasn’t always perfect.

“There were times when I used to go into tournaments and I didn’t feel any pressure whatsoever. I was in my own little bubble and I’d smash them. And then there’s other times when you just feel a little bit nervous because it’s the dedication with me."

Taylor though aired caution in regards to him not taking it fully seriously saying that while talent gets you somewhere, it's the dedication that sends you to a different stratosphere.

“If talent doesn’t work hard, hard work will beat talent. I think he’s got more natural ability than I have, that’s for sure. I had a bit of the Nigel Benn syndrome, whom I’m friends with.

“Nigel said when he was in the army, you’d have to get up at like 5 o’clock in the morning. But when he took boxing up, he could have a lie-in till about 9 o’clock. He worked his socks off and that’s what you’ve got to do.

“I think not being so dedicated will take its toll one day. But not yet. I mean Luke’s still young yet.”