Darts icon Phil Taylor was amazed to learn that Luke Littler plans to undertake minimal practice before defending his £1 million World Darts Championships title.
Littler aims to become one of the few to retain the prestigious Sid Waddell Trophy. The highly anticipated darts event kicks off on Thursday night, with Littler facing Lithuanian Darius Labanauskas in the first round.
Despite being just 18 years old from Warrington, Littler is opting for limited practice leading up to the tournament, surprising the 16-time world champion Taylor.
Taylor, speaking on SunSport’s Flight Club, expressed his astonishment at Littler’s unconventional preparation approach. He noted that Littler’s confidence is high, recalling a recent instance in Finland where Littler didn’t practice, yet performed exceptionally well on stage.
Throughout his three-decade professional darts career, Taylor emphasized the mental aspect of the sport as crucial. He stressed the importance of mental preparation and avoiding over-practicing, especially with the significant prize money at stake during the championship.
Taylor advised players to focus on mental readiness early on, suggesting that rest and proper mindset are key to success. he also highlighted the need to avoid exhaustion from excessive practice, urging players to strike a balance to ensure peak performance over the three-week tournament duration.