Luke Littler Reigns Supreme at the World Matchplay Darts
Teen darts prodigy Luke Littler has once again left a significant mark on the darts world after securing the World Matchplay Darts title on Sunday. Marking his second consecutive victory in Blackpool, Littler triumphed over Gerwyn Price with an impressive score of 18-9.
The young star’s dominance in the world of darts is becoming increasingly evident. As of 2026, he has captured every major title from the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). Given his performance at the World Matchplay, it’s hard to contest that Littler stands out as a formidable competitor, seemingly a tier above the rest.
This remarkable string of victories has ignited discussions regarding his status in the sport. Pundits Laura Turner and Chris Murphy, during a segment on Sky Sports’ Love The Darts podcast, deliberated whether Littler can be considered the most dominant athlete currently in professional sports.
Murphy remarked on the complexities of measuring dominance across sports, especially in darts, which boasts numerous major titles. He speculated that Littler, with his complete mastery, is on track to secure what would be considered a Grand Slam title, acknowledging that he is indeed one of the most dominant figures in the sport today.
He further compared Littler’s prowess to other sports legends, mentioning world No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner and renowned golfer Scottie Scheffler, yet concluded that neither posed a serious challenge to Littler’s current form.
Turner echoed Murphy’s sentiments, highlighting the rarity of British dominance in both men’s and women’s darts. She pointed out Beau Greaves, who recently won the Women’s World Match Play, asserting that Greaves has also displayed extraordinary skill and consistency, such as maintaining a staggering 114-game winning streak.
Evaluating Littler’s Legacy Compared to Phil Taylor
While both Turner and Murphy are thoroughly impressed by Littler’s accomplishments, they agree that further achievements are necessary before he can be definitively considered the best darts player of all time. Murphy emphasized that while Littler may one day claim that title, he is not quite there yet.
Murphy critically assessed Phil Taylor’s exceptional record of 16 world titles, accumulated over four different generations of players, suggesting that Littler has significant ground to cover before surpassing Taylor’s legacy. Taylor, who retired in 2018, is regarded as the record holder in the darts world thanks to his ability to adapt to different styles of play.
Many in the darts community, including Lawlor, believe that Littler remains in the early stages of his career. Recognizing the weight of historical context, she stated that recency bias often skews perceptions of a player’s greatness, noting that many have yet to fully appreciate the level of darts play that existed before Littler’s rise.
Ultimately, while Littler emerges as one of the most powerful athletes in darts today, his legacy is still developing. As he prepares to defend his title in this year’s Boyle Sports World Grand Prix, the sporting world watches eagerly to see how his journey unfolds.
