In an exclusive interview with bet365, Luke Littler revealed that he believes he is closing in on Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen at the top of the sport's all-time greats.
Littler has enjoyed a remarkable rise in the sport after bursting onto the scene ahead of the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship.
His first trip to Alexandra Palace saw him progress all the way to the final before he was beaten by Luke Humphries.
He secured his first world title 12 months later by beating van Gerwen 7-4 in the final and he then retained the trophy in January after thrashing Gian van Veen 7-1 in a one-sided final.
In the process, Littler joined an elite club of players to have won the World Darts Championship in successive years, joining Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson on the illustrious list.
Despite being in the early stages of his career, Littler has dominated the sport in the last two years in the same way that the likes of Taylor and van Gerwen have been able to dominate different eras in previous years.
When asked where he would rank himself on the list of all-time Darts players, Littler delivered a confident response.
"With what I've won, I would probably put myself third at the moment," said Littler.
"Phil (Taylor) is top of the list and I would have to put Michael van Gerwen second.
"I think I'm getting pretty close to them with the tournaments I've won recently but I'd say those two are ahead of me.
"You've also got to look at how many titles Barney has won. Adrian Lewis went back-to-back, Gary Anderson did it and then obviously I've done it.
"Obviously in years to come I’ve got to think, do I still need to play darts? Do I still need to come to these places?
"Hopefully once I've won the World Cup and the European Championship, that’s everything ticked off the list.
"I’ve wanted to win one of every major and I've almost won every tournament now."
I definitely think I'm up there after the last two years and Phil's numbers spur me on.
Littler suffered what he described as the first dip of his career in the early stages of this year's Premier League Darts season.
But the back-to-back world champion has come roaring back to take his place at the top of the table and secure his place at Finals Night.
He believes he has found his best form ahead of a busy period in the Darts calendar.
"We always have ups and downs, it’s the first time in my career I’ve had a bit of a downward spell," said Littler.
"I would definitely say I’m back but we’ll have to see where it takes me and just keep taking each match at a time.
"I think if I am consistent with 110/115 averages game after game and week after week, then nobody will stop me.
"I've needed to practice and find that form again and now I know I will be at the O2 again."
Luke Littler Career Trophies
- World Darts Championship - 2025, 2026
- Premier League - 2024
- World Matchplay - 2025
- World Grand Prix - 2025
- UK Open - 2025, 2026
- Grand Slam of Darts - 2024, 2025
- Players Championship Finals - 2025
- Masters - 2026
- World Series of Darts Finals - 2024
The debate around whether Littler can one day be ranked alongside Taylor at the top of the sport will continue to grain traction the longer Littler's dominance of this era continues.
In sheer numbers, Taylor's eye-watering tally of 16 world titles is unlikely to be surpassed by anyone.
However, the form that Littler has shown since his emergence has certainly suggested that he could potentially match Taylor talent-wise, in what is arguably one of the most challenging eras of the sport.
Littler's Premier League rival Stephen Bunting has also shared his opinion on the comparisons between the two players.
Bunting believes that there will only ever be one man at the top of the sport but that Littler's achievements and contribution to the game put him close.
"Luke is definitely up there at his peak but Phil Taylor in my opinion is the greatest of all time for what he did for the sport, said Bunting.
"His total of 16 world titles will never beaten and Taylor will never be overtaken in my opinion.
"Michael van Gerwen would probably be next but I think you’ve got to put Littler very close to those two players.
"He’s refreshed the sport and brought in a new demographic of people watching the sport.
"We’ve got more viewers than we've ever had so long may that continue."
