The world of professional darts was left in a state of profound grief and disbelief on Sunday as teenage sensation Luke Littler was seen visibly breaking down upon receiving the news of the passing of 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor.
The moment, captured by cameras ahead of a scheduled Premier League Darts media day, showed the 18-year-old ‘The Nuke’ turning away from his management team, his shoulders slumping as he buried his face in his hands. Witnesses reported that Littler, who has often cited Taylor as his primary inspiration and mentor, was “inconsolable” for several minutes.
The official confirmation of Taylor’s death at the age of 64 was released by his family earlier in the morning. While the cause has not yet been disclosed, sources close to the Taylor family indicated that ‘The Power’ had been facing undisclosed health challenges in recent months.
For Littler, the news struck with devastating personal force. The pair shared a famously close bond, with Taylor famously anointing the then-16-year-old as “the best young talent I have ever seen” during an exhibition match in 2023. Taylor became an unofficial advisor to Littler, offering counsel on everything from checkouts to handling the pressures of sudden global fame.
“He was my hero, then my friend, then like a second father,” a tearful Littler later told reporters, his voice barely a whisper. “He told me to take his power and make it my own. I don’t know how to do that without him here.”
Fans and fellow professionals took to social media to express their shock, with many noting the cruel symmetry of the news arriving just as a new generation—led by Littler—was preparing to carry the sport into a post-Taylor era.
The PDC has announced that a tribute will be held prior to the next round of Premier League matches. For Luke Littler, the weight of carrying Taylor’s legacy now takes on a heartbreaking new meaning.
