Phil Taylor has issued a stark warning to Luke Littler about the hostile treatment that comes with being darts' biggest star, revealing he has had to consult a dictionary to understand insults hurled at him from the crowd. The 16-time world champion, speaking to talkSPORT ahead of his own highly anticipated return to the sport, said the 19-year-old Littler must adapt quickly to life as the pantomime villain.
"You've got to get used to it," Taylor commented. "I've had things shouted at me and I've had to look in the dictionary to see what they meant. You're thinking 'what are you on about?'" Taylor pointed to Littler's recent experiences, noting that in Amsterdam the crowd was savage and gave him no breathing room, while even in England fans seemed to be cheering on the other guy — in this case Luke Woodhouse, who dumped him out of the World Grand Prix.
The 66-year-old also attributed much of the hostility to gambling. "It's just sport and it's gambling as well, a lot of people gamble. If young Luke gets beat then obviously people win money. They always have a little bet against him because he's always big odds. It was the same when I was playing. It's something he's got to get used to. If not, he'll make his money then he'll walk away."
Taylor's comments come as he prepares for his own comeback at the MODUS Super Series, having last played a PDC match in the 2018 PDC World Darts Championship final, losing 7-2 against Rob Cross. He retired in 2019 and has done a few exhibitions since, but admitted he is struggling in practice. "I'm trying my best," Taylor said. "I'm practicing, I'm doing everything properly. I just ain't got it at the moment. It's not there. I retired in 2019 and have done a few exhibitions since. I've hung my darts up for four or five years so to get my form back is very difficult."
Alongside two-time world champion Adrian Lewis, Taylor will represent his country in the International Pairs tournament in Portsmouth. The pair are a lethal combo, having won the World Cup of Darts on four separate occasions, and with seven weeks until the tournament, Taylor is working to find his rhythm. If they can groove on the oche soon enough, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
