Luke Littler may only be 19, but the world number one is already thinking about what comes after his playing days. In a candid conversation with former Manchester United footballer Paul Scholes on the YouTube programme The Good, The Bad & The Football, Littler revealed that a career in the commentary box could be on the cards.
When Scholes asked where he sees himself at 51, Littler replied: "Surely retired at 51. Family. Maybe even doing darts commentary or something like that." And when pressed on whether the idea genuinely appeals to him, the teenager confirmed: "Yeah, maybe when I've retired." Littler already has two clear favourites among the current commentators, naming Wayne Mardle and Stuart Pyke as the voices he most enjoys listening to.
But before any potential move behind the microphone, Littler still has plenty of ambitions on the oche. Chief among them is matching Phil Taylor's record of sixteen world titles. "I think I can. Absolutely," Littler said when asked if he could match or surpass Taylor's historic tally. "I've probably got another 30 or 40 years to do it."
Littler's confidence is backed by his remarkable record at Alexandra Palace. At 16, he reached the final on his debut at the World Darts Championship, where he was beaten by Luke Humphries. In his next two appearances, however, he went all the way and returned home with the world title on both occasions. "I've won two in three appearances, so I've got a good record," he said. "As time goes on, it depends on how much I really want it."
Taylor won his first world title in 1990 at the age of 29, with his sixteenth and final world title following in 2013 when he was 52. Littler's young age gives him an exceptional amount of time to chase down the record, but he is taking nothing for granted. "If I really want it, I'm sure I can go for it and achieve it. But I don't know what's around the corner. Maybe I'll retire tomorrow and suddenly hate darts. You never know."
