Luke Littler has the chance to cement his place among darts’ greats when he faces Dutchman Gian van Veen in Saturday’s PDC World Championship final.
Aged only 18, victory for Littler would see him join an exclusive group of players to win the title more than once.
Phil Taylor’s record of 16 – two BDO titles and 14 PDC crowns – remains a distant prospect at this stage, but that it is even viewed as a possibility speaks volumes.
Littler confidently swept aside 20th seed Ryan Searle on Friday to reach his third world final in as many years at Alexandra Palace – and nobody was in the slightest bit surprised.
Two years on from his startling run to the final as a 16-year-old, Littler has swiftly risen to world number one and is dominating in a way only Taylor and Michael van Gerwen have managed previously.
“Obviously in their primes, they were just absolutely unbelievable. I was watching it as a kid,” Littler said.
“With what I’ve done, I can near enough say I’m playing just as well, with the titles, the averages, the amount of nine-darters on TV.
“Maybe if I get [another title on Saturday], then I might be on [the] same level.”
The concern for his opponents is that Littler is already the world’s best player – and has shown signs there is plenty more to come.
“He just makes it look easy,” former PDC professional Matt Edgar told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“[He has reached] three World Championship finals out of three World Championship appearances – and the danger is he’s getting better.
“It looks like he’s getting through these games with ease, he’s brushing seasoned professionals aside.
“Ryan Searle has been playing fantastic but Luke Littler is just on a different level.”
Littler can add his name to a list of multiple PDC world champions which includes Taylor, three-time winner Van Gerwen and Gary Anderson, Adrian Lewis, John Part and Peter Wright (all two).
Players to have won multiple BDO world titles include Eric Bristow (five), Raymond van Barneveld (four and one PDC), John Lowe (three) and Jocky Wilson (two).