Luke Littler Opens Up on Carlos Alcaraz Comparison as Modern Rivalries Take Shape

At just 19 years old, two-time back-to-back world champion Luke Littler has almost completed the sport of darts.

After lifting the 2026 World Masters for the first time on Sunday evening, only one solo professional major now eludes him, the European Championship.

Still only in his third year on the professional tour, comparing himself to his peers is no easy task. Instead, Littler may look beyond darts for inspiration as he continues his remarkable rise.

Looking Beyond Darts for Inspiration?

One athlete not too far removed in age from ‘The Nuke’ is Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz. At 22, Alcaraz has now completed the Grand Slam quartet, sealing the Australian Open on the same Sunday by defeating Novak Djokovic in the final.

At the 2026 Premier League pre-event media day, Littler was asked whether he ever compares himself to young stars in other sports and whether he tries to apply transferable qualities to his own game on the oche.

“Darts Is Different to Every Sport”

Littler was clear that he doesn’t draw direct comparisons, pointing to how unique darts is when stacked against other elite sports, but he still holds huge admiration for Alcaraz’s achievements.

“I wouldn't say so because darts is different to every sport. Football's different to another. Tennis is different. They're all different in different ways,” Littler said. 

“What Carlos is doing is incredible. He's doing very well.”

A Winning Bet on Alcaraz

Littler also shared a light-hearted story from the weekend, revealing he had a personal interest in Alcaraz’s Australian Open triumph.

He wouldn’t disclose the exact figure, but admitted he had a “little lump” riding on the Spaniard, and it paid off.

“Even I had a little lump on him at the weekend. He got me some money,” he joked.

The Luke vs Luke Era

The conversation then shifted to Littler’s growing rivalry with former world number one Luke Humphries, a modern-day duel that mirrors the dominance of tennis rivals like Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Since Littler’s emergence just over two years ago, the pair have already met in seven PDC major finals, a remarkable statistic for two players still early in their careers.

“It’s Obviously Up There”

Asked whether the Littler-Humphries rivalry is already among the best in modern sport, Littler believes it is only going to grow stronger.

“It's obviously up there,” Littler added. 

“The record is there between the both of us, but we're just going to keep playing more. We're going to keep getting wins over each other, and that record's only going to get bigger and bigger.”

Chasing a Legendary Rivalry

Littler then drew comparisons with one of darts’ most iconic rivalries, Phil Taylor versus Raymond van Barneveld, a period he regards as a golden era for the sport.

He believes his battles with Humphries could reach similar heights as both players continue to compete at the very top for years to come.

“I'm not sure what the biggest rivalry is, maybe Taylor-Barney or something. Me and Luke [Humphries], we'll be playing each other so many times,” he concluded.