Luke Littler, 19, makes abrupt retirement confession and vows to walk away from darts on extraordinary condition

LUKE LITTLER says he would walk away from darts if he won 16 World Championship titles in a row. The world No1 produced another jaw-dropping display at the World Matchplay, beating Nathan Aspinall 11-8 with a stunning 113.68 average, the second highest in Winter Gardens history. Luke Littler has been in action at the World Matchplay Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Littler defeated Nathan Aspinall 11-8 at the Winter Gardens Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Littler, 19, also fired in a stunning nine-darter in the opening leg before narrowly missing another perfect leg just moments later. The Warrington ace became only the second player after Phil Taylor to hit two nine-darters in Blackpool and the first to achieve the feat in consecutive years. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Littler is on course for a clean sweep of the televised majors this season after already lifting the World Championship, Masters, UK Open, Premier League and World Cup. But despite his remarkable rise, Littler insists he cannot be considered the greatest of all time unless he equals Taylor’s astonishing haul of 16 world titles. Littler now faces Josh Rock in the Matchplay quarters on Thursday night and said: “That talk has been around ever since I first came onto the scene. People have always asked whether I’ll be the next Phil Taylor. “I’ve always said unless I win 16 World Championships and everything else that Phil has won, then I can’t say I’m the greatest. “Will I still be around in 16 years? Who knows? If I win 16 World Championships in a row, I’m gone. “If I don’t win 16 in a row? I’ll stick around another 10 years. Most read in Darts CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Littler, 19, has bristled at GOAT comparisons with Phil Taylor Credit: Getty “I’m very happy at the minute. I’ve picked up so much silverware already and I’ve nearly completed every major. “The main goal when I came onto the tour was simply to win one of every major. “After that, the aim is to double it, triple it and keep going.” Littler’s pursuit of history has been matched by controversy surrounding his absence from the Players Championship events this season. The Nuke has withdrawn from all 24 events so far and is currently outside the top 64 places needed to qualify Minehead. But Littler insists he knows he will face criticism whatever happens. He added: “There are two ways people will look at it. “I’ll either get grilled for not going or I’ll get absolutely grilled if I don’t qualify. “If I pick up the trophy, who knows what I’ll do? “I think there are only four Players Championship events left in Leicester and I’m not going to Den Bosch for the others.” Comment now