PHIL TAYLOR is gobsmacked by how little practice naturally-talented Luke Littler is planning to do ahead of his £1million World Darts Championship bid.
But The Power reckons that not being burnt out IS the right approach as The Nuke tries to do what only four men have achieved – retain possession of the Sid Waddell Trophy.
The biggest and richest darts event in history starts on Thursday night with defending champion Littler in action against Lithuanian Darius Labanauskas in round one.
On the eve of the tournament, sixteen-time world champ Phil Taylor and Mark Webster, a former Lakeside winner, sat down with presenter Ali Drew for a special episode of SunSport’s Flight Club, which is now on YouTube.
Taylor, 65, was with Littler last month at a packed-out exhibition in Tampere, Finland, and they spoke about his return to Ally Pally.
Only Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson have managed successfully to defend the world crown.
In an exclusive chat, the sport’s GOAT said: “Luke hasn’t fully practised as he should. But if he gets past the first round, then I think he’ll fly.
“Luke has got to go in there knowing he can win.
“I was with him last week in Finland and he’s so confident.
“I said: ‘Are you not taking the practice board with you?’ He’s going down to London and staying in some rented house. He went: ‘No.’
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“Literally, he sat in the room in Finland, he never threw a dart all night, went on stage cold, hit ten 180s and had a 110 average!
“This is crazy. I’d never do that. But that’s his ability. He really is that natural. He’s brilliant.”
Taylor – a self-confessed “loner” in his pomp who refused to mix with rivals on a personal level – was relentless with his own practice as he dominated the sport between 1990 and 2013.
Stamina and endurance will be key qualities in his opinion, this Christmas, ensuring you are not knackered come the latter stages of the expanded 128-player event.
Taylor said: “I’d start getting myself ready about August, mentally-wise. I’m thinking about the World Championship.
“The mind is the biggest muscle in your body. Getting yourself ready early doors is the main thing. Get your mindset right.
“It’s about getting your rest in as well, because a lot of people over-practise. They do too much.
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“Because obviously there’s £1million on the table this year. So everybody’s going to be doing 5-6 hours a day.
“It’s too much. You’ve got to play well for three weeks now. Try and judge it. Never go in tired. Get yourself ready. Make sure your eyes aren’t tired.”
Littler, at 18, is the world No.1 and many feel he could challenge Taylor’s mark of 16 World titles, one of the iconic records in British sport.
Asked by Drew if that is a legitimate threat, Taylor responded: “Yes. It can be done, of course it can.
“If I’ve done it, then obviously anybody else can do it. It’s just being dedicated because he’s been in the world final now twice. He’s won it once.
“So you’ve got to be dedicated just to qualify for the World Championship for 20 years, as difficult as it is.
“To be dedicated when he’s 40-odd years old. And if he’s got a load of money in the bank, you might not have the commitment like you used to or the ambition or the drive.”
Taylor, a grandfather of 11 kids, added: “Luke’s just very down to earth. A normal lad who doesn’t think he’s famous.
“He isn’t interested in money. He’s got a basic car. He’s got a basic watch. He isn’t one of these flash people.
“I’ve seen it before where the first thing someone does is go and buy themselves a Rolex and a sports car. Well, he just isn’t interested.
“He’s just quite happy toddling away. He’s got the right attitude for me.”
Welshman Webster – who will be a key figure of the Sky Sports TV coverage – said: “Luke is just so laidback.
List of all-time Darts World Champions
BELOW is a list of darts world champions by year.
The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions.
That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once – Barney also won four BDO titles – and none of Eric Bristow’s five BDO titles are included.
- 1994 – Dennis Priestley
- 1995 – Phil Taylor
- 1996 – Phil Taylor (2)
- 1997 – Phil Taylor (3)
- 1998 – Phil Taylor (4)
- 1999 – Phil Taylor (5)
- 2000 – Phil Taylor (6)
- 2001 – Phil Taylor (7)
- 2002 – Phil Taylor (8)
- 2003 – John Part
- 2004 – Phil Taylor (9)
- 2005 – Phil Taylor (10)
- 2006 – Phil Taylor (11)
- 2007 – Raymond van Barneveld
- 2008 – John Part (2)
- 2009 – Phil Taylor (12)
- 2010 – Phil Taylor (13)
- 2011 – Adrian Lewis
- 2012 – Adrian Lewis (2)
- 2013 – Phil Taylor (14)
- 2014 – Michael van Gerwen
- 2015 – Gary Anderson
- 2016 – Gary Anderson (2)
- 2017 – Michael van Gerwen (2)
- 2018 – Rob Cross
- 2019 – Michael van Gerwen (3)
- 2020 – Peter Wright
- 2021 – Gerwyn Price
- 2022 – Peter Wright (2)
- 2023 – Michael Smith
- 2024 – Luke Humphries
- 2025 – Luke Littler
Most World Titles
- 14 – Phil Taylor
- 3 – Michael van Gerwen
- 2 – John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright
- 1 – Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler
“I think it riles some of the other players, not in a bad way, but they’re there practising in the back rooms.
“A few of them have said to me, they glance over and he’s playing FIFA on his phone. Or just chilling.
“And he rocks up half an hour before his due to go on, throws a few darts, goes up there and wins his game. And generally wins a tournament.
“He’s just so relaxed with the whole situation and he’s just enjoying life.
“And why wouldn’t he? He’s earned it.”
Watch the full Flight Club interview with Ali Drew on The Sun Sport Youtube channel
