Over the past 18 months, the world of darts has been turned upside down by one name: Luke Littler. Since his jaw-dropping debut run to the PDC World Championship final at the start of 2024—aged just 16—the young Englishman has continued to surge, breaking records and redefining the sport’s landscape.
Now only 18, Littler has already claimed darts’ most prestigious honours. With victories at the World Championship, Premier League, and World Matchplay, he’s become the youngest player ever to secure the sport’s coveted Triple Crown—a feat achieved by only a select few throughout darts history.
The Big Question: How Do You Beat Luke Littler?
As Littler’s dominance grows, so does the intrigue around how to stop him. According to 16-time world champion Phil Taylor, the answer isn’t in scoring power or flashy finishes—but in psychology.
Speaking on the MODUS Super Series, Taylor shared his view that the only real tactic opponents can try is to slow the game down. “Young players rely on rhythm,” Taylor explained. “A lot of that comes from practising alone, where no one’s disrupting your pace. So when they face someone who deliberately slows things down, it can throw them off. Anyone playing Littler is going to try and slow their throw down.”
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Slowing the Game: Does It Work?
While the theory holds water, the results tell a different story.
Littler has faced slow-paced opponents—James Wade among them—yet still continues to win. In 2025 alone, he’s added titles at the UK Open and Belgian Darts Open, alongside his Triple Crown wins. His dominance has been relentless, his scoring devastating, and his finishing ice-cold.
Even players known for frustrating tactics haven’t cracked the code. Wade, with his famously deliberate style, has clashed with Littler multiple times—but more often than not, ends up on the losing side.
If Not the Game… the Crowd?
Where tactics on the oche have failed, one factor seems to affect Littler more: the crowd.
During a Premier League match in Dublin earlier this year, he suffered a rare emotional moment after losing to Gerwyn Price, amid heavy boos and heckling from the crowd. Littler reacted by throwing his darts to the floor and leaving the stage in tears. While such moments are rare, they show the teenager isn’t immune to pressure—especially from a hostile audience.
This may represent the only genuine vulnerability in an otherwise impenetrable armour.
A Prodigy With No Blueprint
Despite Phil Taylor’s suggestions, the reality remains: there is no proven formula to beat Luke Littler. He has adapted to professional life with astonishing speed. Once rattled by pressure, he now thrives under it.
With match averages regularly exceeding 100, combined with ruthless finishing, Littler has become the complete package. Veteran champions like Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price have all tried—none have consistently succeeded.
Even Taylor, who once dominated the sport with an iron grip, acknowledges that Littler presents a unique challenge. The former world No.1 has offered advice to today’s players, but admits that slowing the game only goes so far.
Littler vs the Field: A Puzzle Yet to Be Solved
As of late 2025, Littler’s dominance feels less like a hot streak and more like the dawn of a new era. He has quickly become the benchmark—the man everyone wants to beat but no one seems to know how.
Phil Taylor’s tactical insight offers a glimpse into how opponents might approach the challenge, but so far, Littler has answered every question with his darts—fast, fearless, and decisive.
For fans, it’s thrilling to watch history unfold in real time. For his rivals, it’s a nightmare. Because as it stands, the only person who seems capable of stopping Luke Littler—is Luke Littler himself.
