PHIL TAYLOR has backed Luke Littler to hit an unprecedented feat, if he is prepared to make some major sacrifices.
The Power is the undisputed GOAT of darts, with 16 world titles to his name.
PAPhil Taylor has backed Luke Littler to achieve an unprecedented feat[/caption]
Taylor believes Littler can be the first player to win a £1million prize pot at the darts world championship
However, Taylor believes the current reigning world champion, 18-year-old Littler, will be the first star to win a staggering £1million prize pot at the world darts championship and score an average of 120 in a major final.
The current winner at Alexandra Palace bags £500,000 for becoming the world champion, but with the sports explosion in popularity in the last couple of years it stands to reason that figure will go even higher.
Littler already has five major titles to his name, adding the UK Open to his growing list of accolades after demolishing James Wade 11-2 in the final.
Taylor, speaking as a standard-bearer for net-zero and energy efficiency, revealed he called the Nuke following the win and commented about how humble the teen comes across.
However, he warned that to become a true great of the sport Littler will need to make sacrifices, including steering clear of booze and fast cars.
The 65-year-old told the Mirror: “I called in to see Luke the other day and, apart from all his trophies, you would never know he was a darts player.
“He is so down to earth, such a nice kid, that if he remembers to live a boring life for the next 20 years – steer clear of nightclubs, booze, fast cars and all the normal vices for an 18-year-old – the sky’s the limit for him.
“If he is prepared to make those sacrifices and live like a monk, he could break all sorts of records.
“He’s still a teenager but he’s already won five major titles.
“The day is coming when the champion will pick up £1m for winning the world title at Alexandra Palace, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we see him averaging 120 in a major final. He really is that good.”
Taylor also revealed who he reckons will win the Premier League over the course of the coming weeks.
He added: “At the moment, I can only see one of the Lukes – Littler or [Luke] Humphries – winning the Premier League because over 16 weeks, the cream rises to the top and they are the best players.
“Watching the professionals now, the only time you beat the Lukes is by playing out of your skin and hope that they miss a few doubles.”
Taylor believes Littler could suffer a similar fate to Manchester United, whereby a fear factor gives them a huge edge in performances.
Taylor said: “What I like about Littler is that the kid is fearless. He doesn’t care who he’s playing, he’ll take you on.
“And until that fear factor goes, the others will struggle to live with him.
Premier League Darts 2025: Dates and venues
Night 1 – Belfast: Humphries beat Dobey 6-1
Night 2 – Glasgow: Littler beat Humphries 6-5
Night 3 – Dublin: Price beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 4 – Exeter: Humphries beat Littler 6-4
Night 5 – The Brighton Centre – Thursday March 6
Night 6 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham – Thursday March 13
Night 7 – Utilita Arena, Cardiff – Thursday March 20
Night 8 – Utilita Arena, Newcastle – Thursday March 27
Night 9 – Uber Arena, Berlin – Thursday April 3
Night 10 – AO Arena, Manchester – Thursday April 10
Night 11 – Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam – Thursday April 17
Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday April 24
Night 13 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 – First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday May 8
Night 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday May 15
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday May 22
Play-Offs – The O2, London – Thursday May 29
“Look at Manchester United – visiting teams used to be beaten before they set foot in Old Trafford, but now they are not scared of United any more.
“I think the biggest threat to Luke will be the next generation, the youngsters coming through who have been inspired by him.
“The old brigade will have to look after their money, bank it, pay their taxes and take every opportunity that comes along – because it’s only going to get tougher.”
Taylor took a break from being a darts legend to lobby parliament from the House of Commons terrace with Derby-based Blind Screen co-founders Lenny Reynolds and Paul Cheetham to promote heat-saving thermal window blinds.
Scientists believe they can reduce household fuel bills by up to 15 per cent, with Taylor joking: “After all these years of trying to turn up the ‘Power’ on the oche, now I’m trying to get the country to turn the power down.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d find myself at the Houses of Parliament, rubbing shoulders with MPs and asking them for help with bringing down the cost of heating our homes.
“I was a bit cross when the winter fuel allowance was scrapped.
“I can get by without it, but I know people back home in Stoke who have struggled to keep warm this winter.”
Luke Littler prize money breakdown
Here is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after being crowned 2025 PDC World Darts Championship winner:
World Championship 2025 – £500,000
World Championship 2024 – £200,000
Grand Slam of Darts 2024 – £150,000
European Tour – £91,000
Player Championships events – £71,500
Players Championship final runner-up – £60,000
UK Open 2023 + 2024 – £17,500
World Matchplay – £10,000
World Grand Prix – £7,500
European Championship – £7,500
(Unranked) Premier League Darts – £315,000
TOTAL: £1.43 million
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