Phil Taylor, widely regarded as the greatest darts player of all time, has backed Luke Littler to surpass his record of 16 world titles. However, he has warned that the 17-year-old sensation will have to overcome what he calls the “Man Utd syndrome” to achieve such dominance.
Littler made history earlier this month by defeating Michael van Gerwen to become the youngest-ever PDC World Championship winner. His meteoric rise has captivated the world of darts, but Taylor believes that success will come with challenges, as opponents will now raise their game every time they face him—just as they did against Taylor during his own illustrious career.
The Challenge of Being the Best
Taylor, 64, likened Littler’s situation to that of Manchester United and Liverpool, England’s two most successful football clubs. “If he wants to beat my world record, then he can go ahead and do it,” Taylor said. “But you get what I used to call the Man Utd syndrome—where everybody raises their game against you, so you have to be at your best in every round.”
Taylor knows this challenge well. Over his 35-year career, he faced relentless opposition from players determined to take down the biggest name in darts. The pressure of maintaining success at the top level is something Littler will have to learn to navigate, especially as a teenager who has already achieved financial success.
“It’s difficult when you’re young and you have money in the bank,” Taylor added. “I was 30 when I won for the first time, so I’d done all that before.”
The Littler Effect on Darts
While Taylor retired in 2024 after dominating darts for more than two decades, he acknowledges that Littler has brought a new level of excitement to the sport. The teenager’s incredible rise has sparked a surge in interest among young fans, leading to a boom in darts’ popularity.
“Darts has gone crazy. You wouldn’t believe the difference since young Luke came along,” Taylor said. “I have nothing but credit for the lad, I think the world of him. I think it’s great to see darts so popular.”
Littler’s impact was further recognized when he won the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award and finished runner-up in the main category to Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson.
Could Taylor Have Beaten Littler?
Despite his admiration for Littler, Taylor remains confident that in his prime, he could have beaten the young star. “I’ve had my day, but I would have loved to play Luke at my best,” he said. “We’d have had a cracking game. I think I’d have beaten him, but I’m not sure.”
Littler’s journey is just beginning, and while surpassing Taylor’s legendary record will be a monumental task, his early success suggests he has the talent to do so. Whether he can maintain his dominance amid the pressure of being the man to beat remains to be seen.
