- Luke Littler beat Michael van Gerwen to win his first World Darts Championship
- The 17-year-old will have to win 16 more to beat Phil Taylor's record.
- Taylor says it will be difficult because players will up their game against him.
Phil Taylor has backed Luke Littler to break his record 16 world titles but says the 17-year-old will have to overcome “Man Utd syndrome” to do so.
Littler became the youngest player to win the World Championship at Alexandra Palace earlier this month to complete a brilliant debut year on tour.
After claiming his first crown, Littler has said he could try to surpass Taylor's tally if he wants over the next two decades.
Taylor, 64, wants him to do it, even if he says he would have beaten Littler in his heyday.
“If you want to beat my world record then you can go ahead and do it,” Taylor told the PA news agency.
“It's going to be difficult, to win 16 titles you will have to be in many finals.
Phil Taylor believes Luke Littler is capable of breaking his record of 16 world titles
“There are many darts, many hotels, many kilometers of travel. He would have to play for the next 20 years to get close to my record and for 20 years he has to be dedicated and make sure he does everything right.
'It's difficult when you're young and have money in the bank. I was 30 when I first won, so I'd done all that before.
“You have what I used to call the Manchester United syndrome, and Liverpool have it too, where everyone sets their game against you, so you have to give your best every round.”
And it can take its toll. Especially when you get beat because everyone asks you, 'Why did he lose?' What was wrong with him? Why has your bubble burst?'
Everyone loves to see you up there and they also love to see you get taken down. That's how you take it, but I think he's mentally strong enough to deal with it.
“I had my day, but I would have loved to have played with Luke in my prime, we would have had a great game.” I think I would have beaten him, but I'm not sure!'
Littler has already transcended the sport in a way Taylor never could, even with his total dominance over a 20-year period.
Taylor, although widely recognized within darts, is not bitter.
Littler became the youngest player to win the World Championship earlier this month.
'Darts has gone crazy. “You wouldn't believe the difference since young Luke showed up,” Taylor said.
'I'm fine with that, I'm too old for all that stuff now. I've had 40 years in my career, it can come and it can go. I have nothing but credit for the boy, I think a lot about him. I think it's great to see darts being so popular. I'm fine, I love my life.'
The rise of Littler has seen the rise in popularity of the sport and now fans can watch the MODUS Series, a weekly tournament that gives lower level players the chance to win prize money, for free and exclusively live on Pluto TV.
“For people who love darts, it's great because it's available 24 hours a day, so they can choose every time they watch it,” added Taylor, who works as a pundit for Pluto TV. “Everything is new and exciting.”