Luke Littler demolished Gerwyn Price 18-9 in Sunday’s World Matchplay final at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, claiming the title for a second consecutive year. The 19-year-old was virtually untouchable throughout the tournament, posting a staggering average of 111.04 across the week — surpassing his own previous record for the competition. He also set a new benchmark for the most 180s at the event.Yet it was his post-match comments that generated the biggest headlines.”The main goal was to win every major once, and yeah, I don’t know how many years are left in me,” Littler said.Luke Littler swept Gerwyn Price aside to win the World Matchplay | GETTYThe remarks immediately reignited debate about the teenager’s long-term future in the sport.Since making his professional debut at the close of 2023, Littler has amassed an extraordinary 14 PDC major titles — a haul that would be remarkable for any career, let alone one spanning just two and a half years.His financial earnings have been equally unprecedented. He became the first darts player ever to surpass £3 million on the two-year Order of Merit, cementing his position as the sport’s undisputed world number one.Despite this relentless success, the teenager has scaled back his schedule this year. He has opted out of all Players Championship events in 2026, choosing instead to concentrate on the marquee televised tournaments. However, he revealed after the Matchplay that he would head to Leicester for the upcoming Pro Tour floor events, which could still secure him a spot at the Players Championship finals.Luke Littler has nearly completed darts in less than three years of being a professional | GETTYLittler’s appeal extends far beyond the oche. He has become a genuine cultural figure in the UK, with a public profile that dwarfs that of any other darts player in history. Commercial deals with the likes of Xbox and BoohooMan reflect a celebrity status more commonly associated with Premier League footballers than tungsten throwers.It is precisely this crossover fame that fuels speculation about an early departure from competitive darts. The teenager could walk away from the sport and still command lucrative opportunities elsewhere.Littler himself has previously dismissed suggestions he might retire young, expressing a desire to eclipse Phil Taylor’s record of 16 world championship victories.His fifth PDC major of 2026, however, came at a personal cost — he confirmed he had cancelled a planned holiday to compete in Blackpool.Former Premier League champion Glen Durrant has voiced serious doubts about whether Littler will remain in the sport long enough to challenge Taylor’s tally. “I don’t see longevity. I don’t see 16 world titles from Luke Littler,” Durrant said.He estimated that fans might have the teenage sensation for “the next five, or hopefully 10 years,” but no longer. “He’s not a dart player anymore. He’s a personality; he’s someone who everybody knows in the UK, and I’m sure money will come into it,” Durrant added.The three-time BDO world champion said he could not picture himself discussing Littler chasing a sixth, seventh or eighth world title a decade from now.His message to supporters was blunt: “Enjoy him while we can.”