Sky Sports presenter Emma Paton has called on darts fans to stop booing Luke Littler and instead appreciate his unprecedented dominance, comparing the teenager to sprint legend Usain Bolt.
In just two years, Littler has gone from unknown prospect to the undisputed king of darts. He is the reigning champion of every televised major on the PDC calendar, except the European Championship, where he lost to James Wade in November. Yet with each trophy, complaints and boos grow louder.
Paton's Plea to Fans
Speaking to Daily Star Sport, via Leasing Options, Paton said: "It's so tough, right? Because I feel like fans are stuck between, 'Oh, we want to see Luke Littler do these amazing, incredible things that we've never seen before.' But then also at the same time, 'Oh, it's boring seeing Luke Littler doing these amazing, incredible things that we've never seen before.'"
She added: "So I feel like fans just need to enjoy this sort of generational talent. We've literally never seen this before. In time, this could be looked back on as him at his peak, and that could be it. I think fans just need to chill a little bit and try and enjoy it. It's like Usain Bolt from 2008 to 2016 when he was winning every major, whether it's the Olympics or the World Championships."
Littler's Unmatched Season
The 19-year-old has swept aside almost everything this season, winning every major he entered in 2026 before retaining the World Matchplay title in Blackpool. He is arguably the most dominant athlete on the planet, alongside pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and cyclist Tadej Pogacar, who are also rewriting record books.
When asked if he believes he is the most dominant sportsperson, Littler said: "Obviously at the minute it's hard to say. With Sinner winning Wimbledon. But yes, the way I'm winning games and the way I'm producing and picking up trophies, it's probably the best out there. Obviously Spain won the World Cup and everyone is talking about Lamine Yamal. I mean he didn't really do much, did he? Scored maybe one goal. Assisted, too. Is he the best 19-year-old in the world? No, he's not!"
What's Next for Littler
Littler's next major is the World Grand Prix, where the unique double-start format will test his dominance. Before that, he is skipping consecutive World Series events in New Zealand and Australia for a holiday at Orlando's Walt Disney World Resort.
