Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler walks into this year’s PDC Darts World Championship not just as the reigning champion, but the red-hot favourite to take the title once again. Littler is the world number one at just 18 years old and has dominated major stages throughout the year.
Since his momentous World Championship victory in January,
he has won the Grand Slam of Darts, the Premier League (on his debut), the
World Grand Prix, and, most recently, the Players Championship Final.
Now the stakes are even higher. If Littler retains his world
title, he will join an unprecedented club of English legends, the elite few
who have managed to win back-to-back world championships.
Phil Taylor
Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor is arguably the greatest player in
darts history, winning the world title a total of 16 times and achieving
back-to-back wins on multiple occasions. His career spanned both the BDO and
PDC eras, but it was the latter that saw his extraordinary runs.
He managed eight consecutive World Championship wins between
1995 and 2002, followed by another three in a row from 2004 to 2006, and later
back-to-back titles again in 2009 and 2010.
His dominance set the standard for every champion who
followed, and his ability to maintain form year after year makes him the
ultimate benchmark for a title defence.
Eric Bristow
Before Taylor, there was Eric Bristow, also known as The
Crafty Cockney. Bristow won a total of five world title wins, twice consecutively
in 1980–81, then dominated again with three straight wins from 1984–86.
Bristow’s smooth, deliberate throw and knack for clinical
finishing made him a constant threat, while his presence on stage often gave
him a psychological edge before a dart was thrown.
Glen Durrant
Glen Durrant’s rise through the BDO ranks was one of the
standout stories of the modern game. After making his tournament debut in 2014,
he quickly established himself as a major threat and won his first world title
in 2017. That breakthrough proved to be the start of a remarkable run, as
Durrant returned to lift the trophy again in 2018, and then completed an
exceptional hat-trick of consecutive titles in 2019.
Although Durrant never reached the final again after 2019,
his three-year streak showcased his ability to maintain that level across
multiple seasons, formats and sets, something only the best can achieve.
Martin Adams
Martin Adams, ‘Wolfie’, is one of the most enduring
figures in world darts. He competed in the tournament for 25 years,
becoming a defining presence of the BDO era. Adams won the world title
back-to-back in 2010 and 2001, adding to his first championship in 2007.
Despite his long-running participation, he reached the final
only five times. Yet his influence, consistency and longevity made him one of
the tournament’s greatest and most respected players.
Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis, nicknamed ‘Jackpot’, carved out his place in
darts history with impressive back-to-back wins in the early 2010s in the PDC
era. After winning his first World Championship in 2011, he returned the
following year to defend the crown in 2012, becoming only the second player in
PDC history, behind Taylor, to achieve consecutive titles.
His two-year stretch at the top included several standout
performances where he maintained composure under pressure and closed out
matches with authority.
Luke Littler’s rise has already reshaped expectations, but a
successful title defence would elevate him into one of the most exclusive
groups in English darts. At just 18 years old, he now stands on the edge of
history — and this year’s World Championship offers him the chance to take his
place among the greats.
Comments
Post a Comment