Littler’s Dominant Performance
Luke Littler successfully defended his World Matchplay title in Blackpool, achieving new tournament and final average records. The 19-year-old defeated Gerwyn Price 18-9, becoming only the fourth player to win consecutive Matchplay titles. Littler concluded the week with an average of 111.04, surpassing Phil Taylor’s record of 106.31 from 2010. In the final match, he recorded an average of 111.53, which also set a new record, exceeding Taylor’s 111.23 against Adrian Lewis in 2013.
Littler’s path to the final included a commanding 17-5 victory over Dirk van Duijvenbode in the semi-finals. During that match, Littler showcased consistent high scoring and clinical finishing, maintaining a match average of 110 and hitting 16 maximums. He quickly established a 4-0 lead and later secured a 12-3 advantage with a 130 checkout. Van Duijvenbode had previously overcome Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson to reach his first World Matchplay semi-final.
In the final, Littler entered as the strong favourite. He secured an early break in the fourth leg with a 167 finish, contributing to a 4-1 lead in the first mini-session. His strong form continued, extending his lead to 8-2 and achieving an average of 114.74 at one point. Although his level adjusted slightly in subsequent sessions, he still secured both 3-2, moving closer to victory. A 148 checkout, his sixth ton-plus finish in the final, brought him within two legs of the title. He ultimately claimed his fourth ranking title of the calendar year with a break and hold.
Prize Money and Records
For his victory, Littler received £225,000 in prize money. His total earnings over the PDC’s two-year order of merit now stand at £3,143,500, which is £2.13m more than Luke Humphries, who is in second place. This achievement also made Littler the first player to surpass £3 million in prize money on the PDC rankings.
Beyond his average records, Littler also set a new tournament record for 180s in the final, hitting 12 maximums to reach a total of 66, surpassing his own record from the previous year. This win extends his impressive streak in longer-format matches to 29 successive victories in games featuring 20 or more legs. His last defeat in such a match occurred in the 2024 World Championship final against Luke Humphries.
Price, despite the loss, had a successful week, climbing to fourth in the order of merit and reclaiming the Welsh number one position from Jonny Clayton. In his semi-final match, Price secured a 17-10 win against Gian van Veen. He established an early 4-1 lead with a 125 checkout. Although Van Veen managed to close the gap to 6-4, Price regained control, eventually leading 15-9 before sealing his victory.
Future Aspirations
Following his triumph, Littler expressed his ambition to achieve a clean sweep of the PDC ranking titles within the calendar year, a feat that has not been accomplished before. This goal presents a challenge, particularly concerning the Players Championship Finals in November.
To qualify for the Players Championship Finals, Littler would likely need to participate in and win some Pro Tour events. He has previously skipped the first 24 Pro Tour events and withdrew from two scheduled in Hildesheim. This leaves only eight remaining events for him to compete in at Minehead. A total of 64 players qualify for the Players Championship Finals, with the final qualifying player currently holding £22,750 in prize money. A win in a Pro Tour event is worth £15,000, and a runner-up position earns £10,000, indicating that Littler has work ahead to secure his qualification. Former BDO world champion Mark Webster suggested he “half expects” Littler to achieve this clean sweep, noting his ability to perform across various formats.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Harry Loxley is a Senior Football Correspondent at NewsGB.org. He spent his early career reporting East Midlands football. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Derby and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Derby, he watches non-league and runs a fan podcast. “Good football writing follows the people, not just the points.”