‘Don’t talk to anyone’: Luke Littler reveals why Phil Taylor told him to keep distance from darts rivals

LUKE LITTLER opened up on an important piece of advice darts legend Phil Taylor has given him.

Littler, 17, has taken the sport by storm since bursting on to the scene last Christmas at the age of 16 and has won a large fanbase as well as recognition from football, wrestling and Formula One stars.

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Taylor, 64, decided to share some words of wisdom over a private meal last month.

And the Power advised Littler to keep his distance from his darts rivals as that would make it "harder" for them to face him at the oche.

Littler told : "As soon as he walked in, me and my mum were, ‘What is going on!?'

"Sat down having a meal with Phil Taylor! It was good. He was telling me some of the stories on tour, [about] some of the players.

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"He was saying, ‘Just keep yourself to yourself. The least you interact with people, the harder it is for them. Don’t need to talk to anyone’.”

Taylor has sang Littler's praises before as he was impressed by his character and humility.

The Stoke-on-Trent thrower was particularly pleased to see how the youngster didn't prioritise prize money.

Taylor said: "He’s got age on his side, he’s got the ability. He just plays his game.

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"He’s quiet as a mouse. Lovely company. Not motivated by prize money.

"He’s more interested in looking after his mother and father.”

Littler is among the favourites to win the Sports Personality of the Year award, which would make him the first ever darts star to earn that honour.

He starts his campaign to win the wolrd championships later this month - and could be set for a dream opening clash.

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

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