PHIL TAYLOR has offered Luke Littler four key tips to staying at the top of his game.
The Power, 65, dominated for decades and is a 14-time world champion.
Luke Littler is two-time reigning world champion Credit: Alamy
Phil Taylor won the World Championship 14 times during his career Credit: Alamy
, meanwhile, is well on the way to legendary status himself – having already won two world titles at Ally Pally.
Discussing the teenager, who has recently found himself , revealed what he could do to increase his chances of maximising his talent.
Citing lessons taken from superstars of the , and even from bodybuilders, Taylor said during an appearance on Double Tops : “I used to try everything, everything for thinking.
“One thing that amazed me was how other sportspeople did it. I loved listening to people like , how he did it, and others, just picking up little things from everywhere.
“One of the things I’d do was take a mattress topper with me to the hotel, the same as my bed at home. So I’m not sleeping on a different bed, I’ve got my own setup. My own pillow as well.”
When he first burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old, Littler was known to love eating a kebab as a victory meal – although he has since toned down that image.
On dietary habits while competing, Taylor added: “When you’re playing in the World Championship for a million pounds, you don’t leave anything to chance.
“I actually said to Luke’s mum last year, ‘You’re playing for a million quid, don’t eat out of hotels, don’t have takeaways. Cook your own food in your room.’
Taylor, 65, took inspiration from Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan Credit: Getty
“That’s what I used to do. I’d cook in the room. Lamb chops were a nightmare because they’d smoke the place out!”
On whether he world look for hotels that included a kitchen with cooking utensils, Taylor admitted: “No, I’d take my own! I got the idea from a bodybuilder who used to compete.
“He said bodybuilders never risk eating out because of food poisoning.
“If they got ill, they could lose a huge amount of muscle, and it might take years to get it back. And for me, it could cost you the World Championship.
“There’s always a chance of food poisoning when you eat out, so I’d go to the supermarket and keep it simple, meat, eggs, maybe a bit of bread, and something for when you get back to the hotel late at night. That way you’re not eating junk food.”
Taylor believed that if he went into matches feeling peckish, that hunger would translate to an increased desire to win.
He added: “This might sound weird, but I got it from watching documentaries, Roman soldiers and gladiators never went into battle on a full stomach.
“Then I heard talking about it. His nutritionist said, ‘Would you rather fight a full lion or a hungry lion?’ You’d rather fight the full one. So the idea is, you go into battle hungry.
“If you’ve ever fasted, you know what it’s like, you can smell a chip shop miles away. You’re switched on.”
Taylor even reckons that Littler should fork out on his own van to travel to events in.
He reasoned: “That’s probably the key to success, being a bit hungry. If you’re playing for a million pounds, don’t risk anything. Do everything perfectly.
“I even had a van so I could take things like an air fryer, or a little camping stove and frying pan.
“If I got back at 11 o’clock at night and I was hungry, I’d cook a steak and a couple of eggs, protein, nice and simple.”
Littler, 19, is set to be back in action this Thursday.
The Nuke will be in Aberdeen for Night 13 of this year’s Premier League.
In his first contest on the night, Littler will take on Josh Rock.
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Eze Chidiebere Paul
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