PA Images/Alamy Images

'Not a chance': Analysts agree Phil Taylor's World title record won't be broken by Luke Littler or Luke Humphries

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | By Samuel Gill | Last updated May 22, 2025 2:42 PM ET

Phil Taylor is still the all-time record holder with sixteen world titles (two with the BDO, fourteen with the PDC). Whether that record will ever be broken seems highly doubtful. The discussion on this subject was already heated during the podcast 'Love The Darts', on Sky Sports;

Luke Littler became the youngest ever world darts champion at the age of 17 earlier this year. The question, then, is whether "The Nuke" should ever be considered capable of attacking Taylor's "unbreakable" record of 16 world titles. "I don't think it's possible," said Polly James, presenter at Sky Sports.

"Even between them (Luke Humphries too), I don't think they could get 16 World titles. I think they are absolutely phenomenal and could be the greatest ever. Phil was there at Armageddon (exhibition) and I asked him the question and he said not a chance, I think Luke Littler is going to retire in 10 years."

Competition

Devon Petersen, a former PDC Tour Card holder and now occasionally active in the MODUS Super Series, also agrees. "You can't compare the titles. It's moving in a space where Phil Taylor was almost untouched for a long period of those 16 titles. Not because everyone was extremely poor, it's just that he was the greatest and he probably still is."

"There's more players in that pool now that can throw in 115 averages, 110. Not as consistent but I'm saying that these players on a night and 105 can win you many matches so I think the challenge is Luke Littler will retire in 10 years simply because the amount of money that's in the sport now. Phil Taylor needed to have that 16 to have that life he has. Is the motivation the titles or the money?"

Time will certainly tell whether Littler or Humphries can get anywhere close but it will likely be many years until we find that out.