WADE CLAIMS LITTLER IS NOT AS DRIVEN AS TAYLOR

JAMES WADE believes Luke Littler is not as driven as Phil Taylor on the oche.

The world No6 was asked whether Littler can go on to surpass Taylor's incredible achievements and cement himself as the greatest player in darts history.

But Wade, 43, insists the pair have come from vastly different backgrounds, with Taylor forced to chase success and financial security in a way Littler has never had to.

He told talkSPORT: "At the moment Phil is definitely the better player.

"I don't believe Luke is driven like Phil.

“Phil is a different era and generation, comes from a different background.

"Hasn't had the rewards Luke has had financially and I am going to say fame.

"So, Phil had to chase that dream. Luke is not in it for those reasons.

"I believe he just loves darts."

The Nuke has enjoyed a remarkable rise since bursting onto the scene at Alexandra Palace at 16-years-old when he reached the final on debut.

The teen sensation has since won 13 major titles, landed a £20million sponsorship deal with Target, featured in Sidemen YouTube videos and broken onto mainstream TV with appearances on shows such as The Jonathan Ross Show.

Taylor is widely regarded as the best player to have ever walked the planet after winning a record 16 world titles.

But the Stoke legend entered the sport in a different era, pocketing just £12,000 for his first world crown before prize money skyrocketed later in his career.

Wade believes Littler's success has already unlocked a host of opportunities away from darts, meaning he does not have the same burning need to dedicate his entire life to the game as Taylor once did.

He added: "But he has put himself in a position where he has earned very well.

"He has become very recognised and other doors have opened for him.

"I don't think Phil had those initial rewards there. Phil is a different person, you know.

"Phil is an old-school, older person. Luke is new.

"So I don't think Luke is as driven as Phil was and I think there are so many different doors that have opened for Luke.

"He can go and step into many different things.

"I think fair play to him.

"It's not going to consume him and his life like it has some of us because he has so many other options and he has earned enough already."

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning