Darts icon Phil Taylor was left amazed by Luke Littler’s minimal practice approach before defending his £1m World Darts Championships title. Littler aims to join the select group of four who have successfully retained the prestigious Sid Waddell Trophy. The highly anticipated darts event kicks off on Thursday night, with Littler facing Lithuanian player Darius Labanauskas in the opening round.
Despite being just 18 years old and hailing from Warrington, Littler plans to enter the tournament with intentionally limited practice, surprising the 16-time world champion, Taylor. Taylor, speaking on SunSport’s Flight Club, expressed his astonishment at Littler’s unconventional preparation but acknowledged his natural talent, predicting potential success if he progresses past the initial round.
Taylor emphasized the mental aspect of the sport as a crucial challenge for players at the Ally Pally. Reflecting on his own rigorous practice routines during his 31-year professional career, Taylor stressed the importance of mental readiness, highlighting the significance of early mental preparation and proper rest to avoid over-practicing. With the substantial £1m prize at stake this year, Taylor advised players to strike a balance in their practice regimen to ensure peak performance over the three-week championship period.
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