IS IT SKILL OR SWEAT THAT MAKES FOR OCHE WINNERS?

By Iona May Todd.

LEGEND Phil Taylor recently stated that “hard work will beat talent”.

Yet the superstar ruling the darting planet Luke Littler professes that he hardly practices.

So, I can’t help but wonder: Is it pure skill that beholds a darting superhero? Or is it blood, sweat, and tears?

Let us consider the golden dart powers The Nuke. He defeated World No.2 Luke Humphries 8-1 at Chester Racecourse in an exhibition in February.

Now, in the same interview as aforementioned, Taylor said that preceding the game, Littler “never threw a dart.”

Interestingly, presenter Polly James recently weighed in on Littler’s pre-game philosophies, saying that, “You’ve got Littler in the back room literally on his phone doing nothing.”

Now back-to-back World Champion, Gary Anderson, has a similar approach to practice. ‘The Flying Scotsman’ has confessed many times that he doesn’t practice at all between long tournament breaks.

Now Anderson’s natural ability seems to be more than apparent.

Some darts players, like MVG, do avoid extra-long dart practice sessions, preferring to preserve energy for better on-stage performances.

So, this approach does serve major tangibility in relation to success. With these factors considered, is Littler’s “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach (as he calls it), simply a representation of innate darting super-skill?

Can great darting superpowers like this go untendered?

Or is it that with these powers, comes a responsibility?

– A responsibility to practice, and to work, and to sweat?

Let’s spin the argument.

In that same interview, Taylor followed up his comments on Littler by saying, “If I was there for two hours beforehand [a match], I’d be practising for two hours.”

Taylor has too, admitted in previous interviews that before major tournaments, he would practice darts for upwards of five hours a day. Polly even said that Taylor “is a very staunch advocate of working your arse off.” But let’s widen this discourse further.

Back in early 2024, ‘Cool Hand’ Luke Humphries was quoted saying, “If you feel like you have got to the point in your game where you are great and you are not practising, it will come back to bite you.”

Clearly, the former World No.1’s sentiments align with the working ethics of ‘The Power’.

Backing this perspective further, comes Adrian Lewis. ‘Jackpot,’ once renowned for his ‘effortless style’ said towards the end of 2025 that he’s been practicing for, “three or four hours a day some days, just getting [himself] right.”

Furthermore, one of the most successful players in PDC history, James Wade, said in 2013 that he practices 501 between “one and two hours a day.”

And even despite all defence of the heroism of hard-work, ‘The Machine’ said earlier in February that he “believes a lot of players over-practice”. He added: “sometimes when you’re playing bad darts, sometimes the best thing to do is leave it alone, because you can practice bad habits.”

Here, stealth of success and honed darting-senses seem to be incredibly subjective to the player.

So, what if we consult those who make the darts themselves? Red Dragon, one brand of engineers of the silver-spinning arrows, have stated on their website that the “best education is given in 45 minutes”, with the brand proclaiming that the perfect darting practice session should last between 45-55 minutes.”

They further state that the “break is as important as the performance” in order to allow the “brain, body, nerves and especially hand,” cool down efficiently.

Possibly the answer to my question is that, ultimately, a potent mix of skill along with blood, sweat and tears makes for sporting stars. Especially if you want longevity with it. 

Image by Taylor Lanning.