Darts legend Phil Taylor has claimed Luke Littler will need to overcome “Man Utd syndrome” if the teenage sensation is to break his record of 16 world title victories.
Littler became the youngest winner of the PDC World Darts Championship earlier this month after he beat Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final at Alexandra Palace. The 17-year-old is also the reigning Premier League Darts champion and has been tipped to break Taylor’s record for the most world title wins.
Taylor currently leads the way with 16 victories, while Raymond van Barneveld and Eric Bristow sit second with five wins. “If he wants to beat my world record, then he can go ahead and do it,” Taylor told the PA news agency.
“It’s going to be difficult, to win 16 titles you are going to have to be in a lot of finals. It’s a lot of darts, a lot of hotels, a lot of miles travelling. He’d have to play for the next 20 years to get close to my record and for 20 years he’s got to be dedicated and make sure he does everything right.
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“It’s difficult when you are young and you have money in the bank. I was 30 when I won for the first time, so I’d done all that before. You get what I used to call the Man Utd syndrome – and Liverpool have got it as well – where everybody raises their game against you, so you have to be at your best in every round.
“And it can take its toll on you. Especially when you get beaten because everyone questions you, ‘Why did he lose? What was wrong with him? Why has his bubble burst?’. Everybody loves to see you up there, and then they love seeing you get knocked off as well.
“It’s how you take it, but I think he is mentally strong enough to deal with it. I’ve had my day but I would have loved to play Luke at my best, we’d have had a cracking game. I think I’d have beaten him but I’m not sure!”
Taylor has also credited Littler with helping the sport’s popularity soar, with the 64-year-old adding: “Darts has gone crazy. You wouldn’t believe the difference since young Luke came along. I’m fine about it, I’m too old for all that stuff now.
“I’ve had 40 years in my career, it can come and it can go. I have nothing but credit for the lad, I think the world of him. I think it’s great to see darts so popular. I’m fine, I’m loving my life.”
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