"I don't think he wins the World Matchplay": Glen Durrant waxes lyrical over Luke Littler but does not pick him for Winter Gardens glory
PDCFriday, 10 July 2026 at 08:00
As we head towards the World Matchplay, Glen Durrant has looked back at his own foray at the Winter Gardens when he faced Michael van Gerwen as well as now putting his media hat on to discuss the potential of runs for Luke Littler and also the brilliance of Wessel Nijman and Beau Greaves.
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Durrant said that if he could have another year he would've done which he often says is a great shame as he went on to become Premier League champion before it almost fell apart before his darting eyes after long being a BDO stalwart. He is now a pundit and commentator for Sky Sports but looks back with fondness.
"It was great. Don't forget, I was still working full-time and they gave me a two-year sabbatical. I think within a fortnight I'd won a ProTour and finished runner-up. I think I lost to Chizzy in a final, beat Dimi in a final," he said to Oche180.
"It was just 2019. If I could have one year again in darts, despite the fact that 2020 was my Premier League year, and 2017, 2018 and 2019 were my Lakeside years, 2019 was by far the best year I've ever had. I wish I could have sustained it a little bit longer, but hey-ho."
But while Durrant had his time in the darting sun, he doesn't see Luke Littler finding as much success during the upcoming World Matchplay.
"I don't think he wins the Matchplay, no. I've got nothing statistically to back that up. It's just in the heart. I'm someone who's like, "Who's going to win the next one? Luke Littler. Who's going to win? Luke Littler." Almost when Emma Paton looks at me on Sky, she's almost like, "Luke Littler."
"I don't think he wins the Matchplay. Then there are the implications of that because you go back to the floor and then go to the majors and the Players Championship events. I like the look of Luke Humphries at the moment. Not just on the back of New York, but from the day he played in the Premier League where he was playing with a much slower throw, to seeing where he is today compared to then.
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"Because I feared where he was going after that. When you start becoming process-driven, when you start messing about with your throw, he's all about rhythm. Right now, since then, his rhythm is great."
From Luke Littler to the Wessel Nijman effect
But could that kryptonite be Wessel Nijman, Durrant thinks that his action lends itself to finally getting on the big stage and giving the best he can and that when he manages to get through the initial nerves he will be hard to stop.
"Yeah, he can do really well. What has been quite cute now is he's moved to world number 14, where he's got to avoid the two Lukes in the second round as well. Such a simple, effective and efficient throw. It's just the flick and the power it generates.
"Now it's about... it's OK on the floor in a sterile environment, but even tonight when I played in here with 500 people, the old nerves come. That's what Wessel will have to deal with. Those opening five legs, he'll be nervous. It's not as simple as when you're in Wigan or Milton Keynes on the floor. Once he deals with that, once he accomplishes success on TV, I think the world's his oyster because his throw is so simple. I'm excited for Wessel's future."
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He also touched upon the Luke Littler effect and said that in reality it was a far cry from when he was winning majors and even the likes of Van den Bergh and De Sousa and that it regenerated the sport like no-one else could.
"I think it's a great thing. You're doing something to dominate. Five thousand people at Madison Square Garden, and I can tell you people are going to academies, the numbers are bouncing.
"Why? It's the Luke Littler effect. He has regenerated our sport when we needed someone. Taylor, unbelievable. Then there was that period of Michael van Gerwen from 2016 to 2019.
"Then we were looking. There were a couple of years when I was winning, José was winning, Dimi was winning. But then what we saw at the World Championship in 2023, where he lost in that final, he's just regenerated the sport. I've never in my life seen darts like it is right now. He plays a massive part in the success of the sport, both at grassroots level and strategically in the bigger picture."
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Lauds Beau Greaves effect
Another player that Durrant lauded was in fact Beau Greaves. he said that his favourite throw is her and that she certainly has the world at her feet.
"My favourite throw in the world of darts is Beau Greaves. I think winning the Players Championship was a really big thing. I commentated on that 142. Honestly, when it happened it was like, "How do I get this right as a commentator?" Because this is big. This is huge, what she's doing right now.
"She's her own person, Beau. That's what I admire. I remember commentating on her at the MODUS Super Series, then getting an interview with her. I was transfixed by her. Her answers were so mature.
Durrant waxes lyrical about Greaves.
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"Now she's got Target on her side. Now she's working with Garry Plummer and others. The world's her oyster, but despite that I think she'll have the final say. She's an incredible lady. The best female player I've ever seen, and that throw is just dynamite.
"So she can get that belief, but it's hard. It's hard when you're coming up against the players that are in the world's top eight right now. To get that monkey off her back by winning a Players Championship was massive.
"Can she win a TV tournament? That's a big ask. That's a big ask. But listen, for the world of sport, for the world of darts, fingers crossed she does."
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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