A darts legend has warned Phil Taylor to avoid a match with Luke Littler, even saying he would not be good enough in his prime to beat the teenage sensation.
This fantasy match-up may become a reality as the sponsor and manufacturer, Target Darts, recently posted to social media saying that ‘The Power vs The Nuke’ was on the horizon. This promotion also included a trailer which said that the two would meet and go ‘head-to-head for the first time ever.’ The truth behind this is uncertain, whether they mean a darts match or if it is just a promotional stunt to gain more eyes.
Many have been asking for this match-up since the meteoric rise of Luke Littler in 2023, when he finished runner-up in his first World Darts Championship at just 16 years old, only to follow it up the following year by winning the Premier League and then going one better at the Worlds and winning it by beating Michael van Gerwen in the final.
This has led to conversations over whether or not Littler may be able to surpass the career achievements of Taylor and naturally how a match would play out between the two.
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Taylor has a record 14 PDC World Championships, leaving him in a completely different stratosphere to any other darts player in history. Even with his immense achievements, though, Bobby George, a two-time BDO World Championship runner-up, thinks that Taylor would not stand a chance against the 18-year-old today.
Bobby George Predicts Luke Littler vs Phil Taylor
The darts icon is adamant there would only be one winner
Talking on the talkBULL podcast, George explained that he thought it would be a humiliation if Littler were to play Taylor.
“Look, he [Taylor] was a great player, you have your day. [But] you get to a certain age in your life in your sport, everyone has it, and your body doesn’t allow you to play as you used to. If he played Littler now, he’d get slaughtered, it’d be most embarrassing.”
|
GiveMeSport’s 10 greatest darts players in history |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Name |
BDO world titles |
PDC world titles |
Total |
|
10. |
John Part |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
9. |
Luke Littler |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
8. |
Peter Wright |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
7. |
Dennis Priestley |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
6. |
Gary Anderson |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
5. |
John Lowe |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
4. |
Raymond van Barneveld |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
3. |
Eric Bristow |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
2. |
Michael van Gerwen |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
1. |
Phil Taylor |
2 |
14 |
16 |
George continued to say that just based on his form on the Senior Tour prior to his full retirement from the sport, it was clear to see that Littler would have a big advantage.
“The thing is, he’s retired,” George explained. “He’s played in the Seniors, and he can’t even win in the Seniors. So, playing a guy that’s one of the greatest players in the world at this time, he’s got no chance. If he does it for the money, then alright, take the bees and honey.”
George even backs Littler in a prime vs prime match with Taylor
George went a step further and even said that he thought Littler would be his favourite if he faced off against a prime Phil Taylor.
“Taylor was a great player,” George told talkBULL. “Don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think he would have beaten Littler, even in his heyday, because his scoring power is so good, his finishing is unbelievable. The only way he could probably have a chance of beating him is to take the double 10 off the board, because that’s what he can hit every time. He’s got double 10 or double top, bang straight in.
“Taylor was a great player, but not as good as Littler. That’s my opinion, mind you.”
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