Phil Taylor says Luke Littler has ‘created a monster for himself’
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Phil Taylor believes Luke Littler has ‘created a monster for himself’ because his rivals will ‘get the hump’ and be hunting him down. The 17-year-old has shot to superstardom thanks to his exploits on the oche, becoming the youngest winner of the World Darts Championship ever when he downed Michael van Gerwen earlier this month.
![[2024/25 Paddy Power World Darts Championship - Day Sixteen]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2192426675.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
That came a year on from finishing runner-up to Luke Humphries on his Alexandra Palace debut and his stunning 12 months have already established himself as a household name. Littler is certainly not the only potent force on the oche, though, with Van Gerwen impressing on his run to the final at Ally Pally and Humphries still sitting top of the world rankings, among a number of other threats at the elite level.
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Taylor says players are struggling to find their best form against the teenager star, but does not see that aura lasting for long as his rivals work harder than ever to beat him. ‘That’s at the minute. People will get used to that,’ Taylor told Metro of Littler’s intimidating aura. ‘Michael van Gerwen had it, I had it, Barney [Raymond van Barneveld] had it.
![[2018 William Hill PDC World Darts Championships - Day Fifteen]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-900355074.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘That doesn’t last too long because they’ll get the hump and think “right, I’m not losing again!” He’s created a monster for himself.’. The Power added also backed former world champion Michael Smith as someone who will fire back against Littler, predicting that the contenders will start trimming their schedules so they are primed to beat the Nuke to the next World Championship title.
