Chisnall: Littler has already surpassed Taylor

DAVE CHISNALL has claimed Luke Littler is the greatest darts player he has ever seen.

The world No28 believes Littler has already moved ahead of Phil Taylor despite his record 16 World Championship titles.

Littler, 19, is currently the holder of every PDC major title apart from the European Championship and World Series Finals.

The Warrington thrower has won all SIX televised majors this season, lifting the World Championship, World Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup and World Matchplay trophies.

He has also won 11 of his last 13 PDC ranked Premier events since 2025.

Chisnall believes Littler’s dominance is even more impressive because he is beating the best players of the modern era.

He told Kwiff: “I know some people are sick of him, but the boy is going nowhere else anytime soon.

“The way he plays, and how heavy he scores, is incredible for a boy of his age.

“I know some people will point to Phil Taylor being the greatest ever, and winning 16 World Titles, but Luke is playing against better players now, and beating them even easier.

“Phil had a lot of those players he would face regularly in finals beaten before a dart had ever been thrown.

“He had an aura and a dominance that made people fear him accordingly.

“You’d get a lot of people crumbling under the pressure, whereas Luke is playing World Champions, and players that have done it at the very top.

“His record the last couple of years has seen him beat the likes of Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price, Michael Van Gerwen, top class World Champions who have been at the pinnacle of their sport.”

Chizzy even compared Littler’s rise to Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney.

Rooney announced himself by scoring a famous last-minute winner against Arsenal just days before his 17th birthday, ending the Gunners’ 30-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.

Chisnall added: “For me, Luke Littler is the greatest player we’ve ever seen.

“There are shades to an 18-year-old Wayne Rooney about him.

“Rooney at 18 was incredible, and like nothing I’ve ever seen following England for 40-plus years.

“For me, it would be Littler, Taylor, Van Gerwen for the three greatest to have played the game, and both Luke and MVG will trouser a few more World Championships just yet.”

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning