Commentator Stuart Pyke has ignited a fierce debate by declaring that Luke Littler at his peak would defeat Phil Taylor at his peak. Speaking on the Love the Darts Podcast, Pyke, who has witnessed both players in their prime, said: “I think that all those records are there to be broken, whether he goes on to get 16, like Taylor did in World Championships. But I’ll always maintain that at least half of those that Taylor won were gimmies. Maybe a bit harsh because the competition just wasn’t up to it when Taylor were in his pomp. But it’s a great pub topic and it will go on forever and ever. But for me, Peak Littler beats Peak Taylor.”
Taylor, a 16-time world champion, is widely regarded as the greatest of all time, having dominated the sport for decades. Littler, meanwhile, burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old in the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship and has quickly risen to world number one. He currently has two world titles, with 14 needed to match Taylor’s overall tally. Pyke acknowledged the gap in achievements but believes Littler’s natural ability gives him the edge in a hypothetical peak-versus-peak showdown.
Pyke also reflected on Littler’s defeat to Luke Humphries in the 2024 World Championship final, calling it “the best thing that happened for Littler” and “the best thing that happened for darts.” He added: “I think Humphries deserved his moment. He’ll have many, many more. But it unleashed something that we thought we’d never see again.” Littler has since become world number one, and Pyke’s comments are sure to fuel ongoing debates about the sport’s greatest ever player.
