Luke Littler has become a force to stop on the PDC’s professional circuit (Image: Getty)
Luke Littler has already surpassed fellow darts phenom Josh Rock – who was the subject of two-time world champion Gary Anderson’s incendiary rant in January. Rock, now aged 23, hit a nine-darter against in the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts, announcing himself to the sport.
Having first gained his Tour Card that same year, Rock would be crowned world youth champion and head to Ally Pally in 2023, an unknown but promising entity – much like peer Littler. The similarities between the pair don’t stop there either, as Rock would reach the last 16, beating Callan Rydz and Nathan Aspinall along the way.
However, Rock, having been treated much like Littler, was upset in the second round of the worlds last time out and has yet to win a major title – or reach the final of one. Many feared that The Nuke would suffer a similar fate, including Anderson, who made his feelings crystal clear. Still, the upper echelons of darts have come easier for Littler – whose title tally already dwarfs Rock’s.
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Speaking in January, whilst Littler’s phenomenal run in north London steamed on, Anderson pleaded with the media not to treat Littler as the confidence-shot Rock had been.
“See this now,” Anderson began. “Because with another youngster called Josh Rock. All you press and everything else have absolutely destroyed (Rock).
“So if it ever goes t*** up [with Littler], give yourselves a pat on the back because that’s the way it’s going. Let the boy play darts. I’ve been downstairs today, and he’s had cameras, Zoom calls, Sky, and let the boy play darts.
“He’s had a great two minutes, and he’s played well. What happens if it all goes peacock now? Well, you boys have ruined that, haven’t you? Let the boy play darts, he’s 16 years old and playing well, just like Josh Rock. Fantastic player, but you have knocked him back about two to three years.”
Rock hasn’t lived up to his potential just yet (Image: Getty)
It wasn’t just Anderson who drew comparisons to Rock during Littler’s Ally Pally breakthrough. Michael Smith, who won the world title during Rock’s run in 2023, also feared the worst when it came to the teenager’s progression.
“I just don’t want to see the hype that Josh Rock got last year, and he has struggled a bit this year. I don’t want to put too much pressure on Luke,” Smith stated. “He has always played really well. But being on the Tour with another 127 people, who will be throwing 95 averages or 100 averages, will be different. Just leave him alone. Let him find his feet… but he is good.”
Being a Pro Tour mainstay has, however, not phased Littler in the slightest. A swift 10 PDC titles have been snapped up already, not to mention a trio of major crowns in the , Grand Slam and World Series Finals.
Rock, on the other hand, has yet to reach such heights but remains a promising figure. The Northern Irishman won on the Euro Tour in May and twice on the Pro Tour this year to boot. Though Littler has surely surpassed Rock, the potential for growth is still there.