Hearn reveals Littler’s biggest rival after incredible darts dominance

BARRY HEARN believes Luke Littler’s biggest rival is himself!

The PDC President reckons Littler has created his own competition after inspiring the next generation of darts stars.

Hearn, 78, lauded Littler as a “generational talent” but insists his impact on the oche will eventually produce the players capable of pushing him even further.

He told talkSPORT: “It’s very satisfying for me to see a sport that we started off when the prize money was £500,000 a year for the whole lot.

“To see where we are now, knocking on the £30million stage. I’m just very proud that it has produced a Luke Littler.

“I think the only danger for Luke Littler is Luke Littler because he’s inspired kids all around the world and someone else is coming through.

“I mean there are 10, 12, 15-year-old kids that are amazing. Let’s see how they progress.

“But I think Littler will have effectively generated his own competition in due course.”

The teen sensation has taken the sport by storm and has not lost a televised ranked major match since October 2025, when James Wade defeated him 10-7 in Dortmund.

Since then, The Nuke has captured all seven televised majors he has entered, including five titles in 2026.

Littler’s incredible run has seen him close in on the records of Phil Taylor, who dominated the sport for two decades.

The Power set the standard during his peak years, claiming nine majors in a row between 2008 and 2009 and going unbeaten in 17 consecutive ranked majors from 2008 to 2010.

But Hearn believes Littler is capable of breaking those records

He added: “Well, firstly, we have all been half watching him since he was seven or eight years old. He’s been a phenomenon on the Junior Darts Corporation.

“It wasn’t a secret that he was a fantastic player. What we all kept saying is, how does he cope with the big stage?

“Well, the answer is he loves the big stage even more than the other stage.

“He is without doubt a generational talent.

“We are so fortunate with darts to have characters that can play at world level.

“Phil Taylor set the bar. Michael van Gerwen edged it a little bit. Then Phil Taylor has just destroyed all those records.

“It happens a lot in sport. Whether it is different equipment or conditioning and training.

“Or whether it is just more dedication because darts is such a big business now.

“Luke Littler has £3million on his ranking.

“They’re earning good money. They are full-time players and the standard has gone through the roof.

“Where Littler has taken the standard, who is to say there won’t be another one?

“But I think we are in the presence of a generational talent we will be talking about for a long time.

“Whether he can go 16 world titles, I am not sure simply because that is 16 years.

“Although he is only 19 now, whether or not he can maintain. He may be able to; the kid is a one-off.

“He is a fabulous player and a really nice kid that loves playing darts in front of crowds.”

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning