Darts icon Phil Taylor has delivered a stern warning to teenage sensation Luke Littler, suggesting that a budding romance could derail his pursuit of legendary status if he doesn’t maintain his focus on the oche.
The 19-time world champion, known for his brutal honesty, has watched Littler’s meteoric rise with interest but fears that the distractions of young love—specifically with girlfriend Faith Millar—might be the biggest obstacle to winning the world title.
Taylor, 65, has observed Littler’s busy schedule with increasing concern. The 19-year-old has recently been spotted enjoying romantic race days and holidays with Millar, a 19-year-old beautician.
While the darts legend admits Littler possesses “outrageous natural ability,” he believes that to achieve true “Legendary status,” hard work must come before romance.
“He literally does not practise,” Taylor claimed in a recent interview, recalling a specific incident where Littler spent two and a half hours on his phone before beating Luke Humphries 8-1. Taylor added: “I was like… how? That’s impossible. But he did.”
Taylor’s warning to Littler during the Premier League season was simple but stark: stay clear of distractions and focus on intimidating opponents.
The ‘Aura of Doom’
Taylor built his empire on a mix of ruthless consistency and psychological dominance, warning that Littler’s current party lifestyle could dilute the “intimidation factor” needed to dominate. “You’ve got to have that name about you where they’re a bit frightened of you,” Taylor previously advised.
Worries are mounting that instead of being feared, Littler is becoming too soft. Social media backlash following a clash with rival Gian van Veen sparked boos from crowds, with Taylor noting: “He needs to get off social media – put that phone down and just don’t keep posting things as a reaction”.
As Littler continues enjoying private time with Millar, Taylor insists greatness comes from hunger, not romance. “Don’t eat out of the hotel and don’t have takeaways,” he advised Littler’s mother. “I watched documentaries about Roman soldiers never going into battle on a full stomach”.
While Taylor remains impressed by Littler’s natural scoring power, his message is clear: talent might win matches, but discipline and focus win titles—and Millar will need to compete with darts for the champion’s full attention.
