Luke Littler says he will retire from darts if he wins 16 World Championship titles in a row.
The world No1 averaged an incredible 113.68 against Nathan Aspinall at the Winter Gardens in the World Matchplay, setting up a quarter-final contest versus Josh Rock.
Littler also hit a fabulous nine-darter in the opening leg of the game, beating Aspinall 11-8 who did brilliantly to keep in contention with the 19-year-old.
The youngster admitted that if he beat Phil Taylor’s incredible record of 15 World Championships, he would step away from the sport.
He said: “That talk has been around ever since I first came onto the scene. People have always asked whether I’ll be the next Phil Taylor.
“I’ve always said unless I win 16 World Championships and everything else that Phil has won, then I can’t say I’m the greatest.
“Will I still be around in 16 years? Who knows? If I win 16 World Championships in a row, I’m gone.
“If I don’t win 16 in a row? I’ll stick around another 10 years.
Luke Littler said: ‘If I win 16 World Championships in a row, I’m gone’
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“I’m very happy at the minute. I’ve picked up so much silverware already, and I’ve nearly completed every major.
“The main goal when I came onto the tour was simply to win one of every major.
“After that, the aim is to double it, triple it and keep going.”
Littler has withdrawn from all 24 events so far in the Players Championship, leaving him outside the top 64 places needed to qualify for Minehead.
Littler hit a fabulous nine-darter in his last match
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The youngster has faced criticism due to his absence but recognised that he will come under fire for whatever he chooses to do.
He said: “There are two ways people will look at it.
“I’ll either get grilled for not going, or I’ll get absolutely grilled if I don’t qualify.
“If I pick up the trophy, who knows what I’ll do?
Five things to know about darts star Luke Littler | GB NEWS/GETTY
“I think there are only four Players Championship events left in Leicester, and I’m not going to Den Bosch for the others.”
Littler is the heavy favourite to win the World Matchplay, with several big names already out of the competition, including Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen.
Remaining in the tournament is Dirk van Duijvenbode, who plays Gary Anderson.
Ross Smith faces Gerwyn Price in the third quarter-final, with Gian van Veen playing James Wade in the fourth quarter-final.
