Darts icon Phil Taylor was taken aback by Luke Littler’s revelation of his minimal practice plans before defending the £1m World Darts Championships title.
Littler aims to join the elite group of only four individuals who have successfully retained the prestigious Sid Waddell Trophy. The highly anticipated darts event kicks off on Thursday night, with Littler facing Lithuanian Darius Labanauskas in the opening round.
Despite being just 18 years old from Warrington, Littler is preparing for the tournament with deliberately limited practice, a surprising approach that even left 16-time world champion Taylor astonished.
In an interview with SunSport’s Flight Club, Taylor remarked, “Luke hasn’t been practicing as rigorously as expected. However, if he advances past the initial round, I believe he will excel.”
“Luke needs to enter the competition with the belief that he can emerge victorious,” Taylor added. Recalling a recent encounter in Finland, Taylor shared, “I asked him if he was bringing a practice board, but he confidently replied ‘No.’ In Finland, he refrained from throwing darts all night, yet on stage, he effortlessly hit 10 180s and maintained a 110 average.”
Taylor, known for his dedicated practice regimen during his 31-year professional darts career, emphasized the mental aspect as the key challenge for players heading to Ally Pally.
“Mentally preparing early is crucial. Your mindset is paramount. Rest is essential too, as many tend to over-practice. With £1m at stake this year, players may be tempted to practice excessively. It’s important to strike a balance and avoid fatigue to perform well consistently over the three-week championship,” Taylor advised.