Phil Taylor reveals the only way to stop Luke Littler: 'Slow the game down'

Does it actually work?

On paper, the tactic makes sense – but the reality tells a different story. Littler has never complained about slow-playing opponents, and his results speak for themselves.

In 2025 alone he has piled title upon title. Alongside the World Championship and World Matchplay, he has added the UK Open and Belgian Darts Open to an already glittering CV. It is almost frightening how little impact his opponents seem able to make, regardless of the tricks they try.

Of course, there are matches where rivals deliberately slow things down. James Wade, renowned for his measured, methodical style, has already had a few spiky exchanges with Littler. But even Wade has repeatedly found himself on the losing side against The Nuke.

Crowd pressure – the real Achilles heel?

If opponents can’t disrupt Littler on the oche, the crowd sometimes can. In his still-short career, the teenager has shown himself to be sensitive to a hostile atmosphere.

A clear example came earlier this year in Dublin during the Premier League. Littler lost to Gerwyn Price in a match marred by boos and heckling from the stands. Visibly frustrated, he threw his darts to the floor at the end and stormed off the stage in tears.

These moments remain rare, but they prove that even a prodigy like Littler is not untouchable. His opponents may not be able to unsettle him, but a hostile crowd can certainly affect his state of mind.

No formula for beating Littler

Yet the overriding conclusion remains the same: Luke Littler is almost impossible to stop. Taylor’s advice about slowing the game down offers an interesting psychological angle, but in practice no golden formula has emerged.

Littler has adapted astonishingly quickly to life as a professional. Where he occasionally struggled with pressure and attention in his early months, he now seems to thrive under the spotlight. His relentless scoring – routinely averaging over a ton – combined with ice-cold finishing makes him a nightmare opponent for anyone.

Even wily veterans such as Peter Wright or the aforementioned Wade have found no solution so far.

Taylor’s legacy and Littler’s future

That it is Phil Taylor offering tactical advice adds extra intrigue. For two decades, Taylor ruled darts with an unrivalled mix of talent, mentality and intimidation. He knows better than anyone what it feels like to be the man every rival is desperate to beat.

It is no surprise he wants to guide today’s generation in their attempts to topple Littler. But even Taylor admits it is no easy task.

For Littler, such talk seems to provide extra fuel. Each time a new tactic is devised to halt him, he adapts and overcomes. With more experience still to come, he looks destined to become even harder to beat.

An almost unsolvable puzzle

Taylor may have offered a possible strategy – slowing the pace – but the brutal reality is that no one has yet made it work. Littler continues to sweep up titles as if it were routine.

His only real weaknesses seem to lie away from the dartboard: in his emotional reactions to hostile crowds. But when it comes to the pure game, in 2025 there is barely anyone capable of resisting him.

For fans, this might be the most thrilling prospect – a new wonderkid dominating the sport and breaking records before adulthood. For his rivals, however, it is a nightmare: how do you beat someone who already seems able to do it all?

Phil Taylor has suggested an answer. But for now, it is Littler himself who keeps delivering the real response – on stage, with darts that land fast, hard, and true.