Sixteen-time world darts champion Phil Taylor has publicly advised rising teenage star Luke Littler to significantly limit his social media activity in response to recent crowd hostility. Littler has been subjected to booing during his last two Premier League matches following a heated spat with Dutch player Gian van Veen in Manchester three weeks ago.
Taylor's Direct Advice on Social Media
Speaking on the Double Tops podcast, Taylor emphasised that Littler's online presence might be exacerbating fan reactions. "He needs to get off social media – put that phone down and just don't keep posting things as a reaction," Taylor stated firmly. The darts legend revealed that he himself avoids personal social media opinions, relying instead on others to manage his accounts.
Taylor elaborated on his concerns, noting that "you can't win on there, so don't try to." He believes this strategic withdrawal could help Littler navigate the current challenging period where crowds have turned against him.
Practice Habits Under Scrutiny
The veteran player expressed particular concern about Littler's practice routine, recalling a revealing exhibition event. "We did an exhibition together. I was there as the guest speaker and Luke sat there for about two and a half hours on his phone," Taylor recounted. He contrasted this with opponent Luke Humphries, who was "practising like mad" for the same event.
Despite this apparent lack of preparation, Littler achieved a remarkable 8-1 victory over Humphries, leaving Taylor astonished. "I was thinking, 'this is impossible'... but he did it," Taylor admitted, acknowledging the teenager's extraordinary natural talent.
Impact of Crowd Reactions on Performance
Taylor observed that Littler's form has noticeably dipped since the Manchester incident with van Veen, directly linking this to negative crowd responses. "It does seem to have had an impact because he isn't playing as well," he commented. The booing is expected to continue when Littler competes in Liverpool on Thursday.
Offering constructive advice, Taylor suggested that "eventually it will stop but I think, at the moment, the thing I'd say to Luke is just go and play out of your skin." He believes exceptional performance could win back crowd support naturally.
Long-Term Potential and Legacy
When questioned about whether Littler could potentially surpass his own record of sixteen world titles, Taylor acknowledged the teenager's exceptional abilities while emphasising the need for discipline. He described Littler as "only young" and learning to handle professional pressures, explicitly stating that "I don't think Luke is a villain by any means."
Taylor concluded by reiterating his willingness to offer personal guidance if requested, highlighting his genuine concern for Littler's development amidst the current challenges with fan reactions and social media distractions.
