Cross: It's "massively possible" Littler can break Taylor records

ROB CROSS believes it’s “massively possible” that Luke Littler can break Phil Taylor’s 16 world title haul.

The 2018 world champion is convinced that the teenage sensation has got the ability to hunt down The Power’s incredible Worlds record.

Cross, 35, has been Littler’s practice partner and stablemate at Target Darts and praised the people around The Nuke for looking after him.

He revealed: “I think he’s amazing with his mindset. It’s more like point and go really.

“He goes to this tournament, he won’t go to the next. He’s got the luxury with the ranking and it’s working for him. It’s keeping him fresh.

“At the minute it’s all mapped out for Luke. Credit to his management and mum and dad, they really look after him. That allows him to do the job.

“Right now it’s a perfect balance for him. They keep him level, he’s a great boy.

“The big question is everyone saying he can catch Phil Taylor’s records. That is massively possible.

“But it’s how long he wants to do it for. When you are looking at 16 world titles, he’s got two already that’s a minimum of 14 years. That’s a very long time to keep that intensity and hunger. He might be able to do that.

“However his life will change in many ways I’m sure over those 14 years, than what it is now.

“All great players can find something. Taylor had slumps and then he came back, Michael has done the same.”

Littler was unstoppable on the way to the World Matchplay title last month but Cross believes he is beatable, but only over a shorter format.

He added: “Littler on a first to 10 there was maybe a chance but when it was first to 16, that was it. No one was living with him over that distance.

“We are going to go into other tournaments, shorter formats, set play comes in as well. That’s a totally different game. I think there are massive chances against him in the next few tournaments.”

Cross has beaten other greats Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen on the big stages. With Littler he believes it’s about taking the opportunities when they arrive.

He said: “It’s all about hanging in there. You’re not going to get many chances. It’s about taking those chances.

“You try and send them to somewhere they don’t want to be.

“I would say years ago when you played Michael, he had such a threshold. It was like a game of tennis, he’d knock everything back at you and you’d have to answer again.

“One dart is good enough sometimes to win and if you miss it, potentially it’s a runaway train.

“You’ve got to hang on their shoulder and dig in as deep as you can. Your timing of shots, they need to be right.

“If you can get them where they are a little bit nervous or get them thinking. That’s how I did it with Michael when I beat him in the Worlds in 2018.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.