"The way I’m producing and picking up trophies, it’s probably the best out there": Sinner? No - Lamine Yamal? Certainly not: Luke Littler sees himself as the most dominant sportsman of 2026
PDCMonday, 03 August 2026 at 17:53
Luke Littler has no doubts: according to the 19-year-old Englishman, there is currently no athlete in the world performing as dominantly in 2026 as he is. The world No. 1 has won all six televised PDC major titles staged so far this year and is on course for a truly historic season.
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Littler has already captured the World Championship, Masters, UK Open, Premier League Darts, World Cup of Darts, and World Matchplay in 2026. He is now chasing an unprecedented achievement: winning all 11 major PDC tournaments in a single calendar year. His prize money on the PDC Order of Merit has also climbed to more than £3.1 million.
Although several other elite athletes have enjoyed remarkable seasons, Littler believes none can match what he has accomplished. Lamine Yamal won the FIFA World Cup with Spain and the league title with FC Barcelona, while Jannik Sinner claimed the Wimbledon title and reeled off five consecutive Masters crowns. Even so, Littler sees a clear difference.
“Obviously at the minute it’s hard to say. With Sinner winning Wimbledon," said Littler. But yes, the way I’m winning games and the way I’m producing and picking up trophies, it’s probably the best out there."
"Is he the best 19-year-old in the world? No, he’s not"
Yamal's achievements also came up during the discussion. While Littler acknowledged the praise surrounding the Spanish teenager, he believes comparisons with his own achievements are misplaced. “Obviously Spain won the World Cup and everyone is talking about Lamine Yamal.
“I mean he didn’t really do much, did he? Scored maybe one goal. Assisted, too. Is he the best 19-year-old in the world? No, he’s not!
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For Littler, only one thing ultimately matters. "As long as I’m winning, playing well and picking up trophies, then that’s all that matters.”
His latest masterclass came at the World Matchplay in Blackpool, where he defended his title in emphatic fashion by defeating Gerwyn Price 18-9 in the final.
During that championship match, 'The Nuke' averaged an incredible 111.53, setting a new record for a World Matchplay final. Across the entire tournament, he maintained an exceptional standard, once again underlining his dominance in the sport.
Luke Littler wins World Matchplay.
"I’ve done enough work down the years. Now it’s just about relaxing"
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Interestingly, Littler now spends far less time on the practice board than he once did. While many players put in several hours of preparation before a match, the two-time world champion deliberately keeps his warm-up short.
According to Littler, the foundations for his current level were built during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he regularly spent seven or eight hours a day practicing. "Some say it’s natural. But during Covid I was just doing silly hours on the board, seven or eight hours a day, because there was nothing else to do.
“So I feel pretty comfortable coming to the venue. Obviously players have set times of maybe three or four hours.
As a result, he now feels completely relaxed when he arrives at a tournament venue. “I mean I practice for 20-25 minutes, just relax again and then go back on the board.
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Trusting the work already done
Littler believes it is now more about trusting the years of preparation he has already put in than trying to improve in the final moments before a match.
“I’ve done enough work down the years. Now it’s just about relaxing. Every time I come to the venue it’s just about getting warm.
He also stressed that his pre-match routine is not about chasing spectacular moments. “I don’t practice to try and hit nine-darters or to hit big finishes. It’s just finding the treble and going on stage and producing my best. Taking my practice on to the stage.”
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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