COLIN LLOYD has ranked Luke Littler THIRD among the greatest darts players of all time.
The world No1, 19, has already lifted 14 major titles despite turning professional just over two years ago.
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Only Michael van Gerwen, with 51, and Phil Taylor, with 83, have won more in the history of the sport.
Ex-pro Lloyd believes Littler still has some way to go before he can overtake the two legends at the top of his list.
He told BestBettingSites.co.uk: “Taylor, Van Gerwen, Littler. I have Luke Littler at third at the minute.
“He’s only been on the circuit two-and a-bit years. You’ve got to look at someone like Phil Taylor, who had 25-30 years on the tour.
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“MVG’s been on the tour a long while as well. In my mind it goes, Taylor, Van Gerwen, Littler.”
Van Gerwen made his PDC debut in 2007 before claiming his first Premier event crown at the World Grand Prix FIVE years later.
But Littler tasted TV glory just six months into his career when he claimed the Premier League title in May 2024.
The Nuke has already matched Taylor by reaching at least the final in each of his first three World Championship appearances.
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However, The Power was 35 when he claimed his first world title.
Littler was just 17 when he lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy for the first time, making his achievement even more remarkable.
Former World Matchplay champ Lloyd, 53, believes there are already three young players who could be ready to follow in Littler’s footsteps.
He added: “There are two outstanding players, possibly three. There’s a young man up in Scotland called Mitchell Lawrie. He’s actually breaking all of Luke Littler’s records in the youth.
“Mitchell Lawrie, I think he’s going to be 16, so I think he’ll be at Q School in January.
“Another young man from Burnley is Kaya Baysal. Kaya Baysal’s an extremely good player, also.
“So, they’re two of the biggest names that are possibly going to be pushing through and trying to get a tour card for next year.
“But also there’s another young man, but he’s only 13, 14 at the moment, and his name’s Jack Johnson, Jackie Boy Johnson.
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“And he’ll certainly be a player to look out for in the future. He’s just become the UK men’s singles champion, funnily enough, in the old WDF sort of system.
“He beat two players who play on tour in the PDC ranks at the minute. He beat Martin Lukeman, and he beat Owen Bates. So he’s certainly one for the big stage.”