Phil Taylor insists Luke Littler is not driven by financial gain after the darts prodigy took his 2024 earnings to £1million.
That includes the £150,000 he pocketed after his stunning victory at the Grand Slam of Darts last Sunday. Having won both the Premier League and the World Series, it was the 17-year-old’s first major ranking title, launching him to fifth in the world rankings.
Sudden wealth and fame might change some youngsters, but 16-time world champion Taylor has told talkSPORT that money isn’t what fuels Littler. Taylor, who recently retired from competitive darts after a stint on the World Seniors Tour, said: “I’ve seen players come and go over the years.
“It’s a matter of being dedicated. Money isn’t his motivation. Believe it or not, he isn’t really that bothered.” Taylor, who also represents Target Darts along with Littler, added: “I was with him a couple of weeks ago down at Target, and he just plays on his game.
“He is a typical teenager and he isn’t motivated by prize money. It’s great (the prize money), don’t get me wrong, and he’s secure. He’s more interested in looking after his mother and father in tournaments.
“It’s lovely to see because I’ve seen so many players where they start earning money, and that ruins their career then. But this lad, he just sits there, he’s quiet as a mouse, he’s lovely company, to be honest.”
Littler bagged £200,000 for making it to the final of the last World Championship, and a further £315,000 for clinching the Premier League title just five months later (the £275,000 top prize plus the £40,000 he won during the league stage).
There is another £120,000 on offer at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead this weekend before attention turns back to the World Championship, which begins on December 15.
Despite only starting to rack up prize money less than a year ago, Littler already ranks higher than all but four of the world’s top players. The young prodigy could ascend even further this weekend ahead of Monday’s draw for the Worlds.