"You're always judged on being a world champion and how many you win": Wayne Mardle says Littler's Ally Pally record counts more than majors

According to Sky Sports analyst Wayne Mardle, it is "ridiculous" what Luke Littler has accomplished in darts in a short time. Still, the former player believes the teenage sensation can only really be judged when he tries to defend his world title at the upcoming World Darts Championship.

Littler took his eighth major title last weekend by defeating Luke Humphries 16-11 in Wolverhampton in the final of the Grand Slam of Darts. In doing so, he successfully defended a title for the first time, a feat that previously only Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price managed at this tournament....

As if that wasn't enough, the 18-year-old Englishman also crowned himself the youngest ever world number one, knocking Humphries off the throne. Still, Mardle does not see the real test coming until December, when Littler must defend his world title at Alexandra Palace.

"That's how you get judged. You're always judged on being a world champion and how many you win," Mardle said. "If he was to win five of these Grand Slams and only one world title, it'd be a question of why did he only win one world title?

The commentator cites an example from the past. "There was a time when Michael van Gerwen won 26 events in one year, but didn't win the Worlds. He literally said, I'd swap the whole lot for being a world champion. These are interesting times and exciting times. Whilst this is absolutely huge right now, the Worlds is the biggest thing."

Mardle visibly enjoys the level Littler brings, but also the broader impact he is having on young darters. According to him, what is happening right now is unprecedented. "It is ridiculous, and because we've really never seen it before, it seems even more ridiculous," he added. "In four or five years, it wouldn't surprise me if the semi-finals of the World Championship consisted of four teenagers."

The former pro believes Littler has inspired a new generation. "If you would have said that before Luke Littler, it would have been, are you mad? Now, it seems doable. It seems like there will be another Luke Littler around the corner. I'm not saying in the next year or so, but in the next two or three.

"Kids watching him will be inspired to be like him, like I was watching Eric Bristow like someone else watching Phil Taylor.

According to Mardle, Littler is now much more than a prodigy. "In a way, you kind of have to forget his age and everything now, because the experience he's got and how good he is, it's beyond his age. Say he's at this kind of level for the next four or five years. Why can't he go on and win another three or four World Championships?"

Despite his unprecedented successes, according to Mardle, Littler has one worthy rival in the person of Luke Humphries. The two completely dominate the sport and self-declare that they play "in a league of their own," separate from the rest.  "What was really good is to hear Luke Humphries afterwards say that they are the best two," he said.

"I don't think he bigs himself up enough, and I don't know why he's bigging himself up now, after losing the No 1 spot, he should have been doing that before.

The commentator emphasizes that their rivalry takes the sport to the next level. "The pair of them go at it differently to the others. You feel like they can do it every single day, every single match, and no matter what the situation. Others have to match them, they don't have to match anyone."

According to Mardle, that competition is creating a new era in darts. "It's a great time to watch, play or be involved in darts. These two together are creating a golden generation."

If it's up to Mardle, we won't have to guess for long who will soon be vying for the world title. "There's maybe seven, eight, nine players that can win it," Mardle said.

"But these two are the two. They're the ones to beat. I'm going to predict it will be a Luke and Luke final - boringly - but that's the way it is, because that they are head and shoulders above."