Luke Littler Clinches World Matchplay Title
Yesterday, Luke Littler emerged victorious in the Betfred World Matchplay final, defeating James Wade with a scoreline of 18–13 at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens. After falling behind 0–5, Littler rallied with astonishing composure to claim nine of the next eleven legs, ultimately sealing the win with four successive closing legs. His stellar performance included a three‑dart average of 107.24 and an incredible 17 maximum 180s, breaking the tournament record for most 180s in a single final. This victory earned him £200,000 in prize money and cemented his status in darts history.
Triple Crown Triumph at Just 18
Littler now joins the elite list of players who have completed the PDC Triple Crown—winning the World Championship, Premier League, and World Matchplay—alongside Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, and Luke Humphries. At 18 years, six months and six days, he is the youngest player ever to achieve this — surpassing Wade, who held the record since 2007.
🔥 Record-Breaking Semi-Final Momentum
Littler’s journey to the final was turbocharged by a spectacular semi-final against Josh Rock, where he threw a televised nine-darter, which many commentators dubbed the “second-best leg” in darts history. Trailing 6–1, he staged a comeback to win 17–14, setting a record for most combined 180s (29) in a single Matchplay match.
🏆 Littler’s Place in the Rankings & What’s Next
Despite his dominance, Luke Littler is not yet world No. 1. While he has earned approximately £1.5 million in ranking prize money, Luke Humphries currently leads with around £1.8 million, thanks to earnings he must defend in upcoming events. Littler has made no secret of his ambitions: he wants to "conquer every major TV title" still on his checklist – including the European Championship, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam, and Players Championship Finals.
📝 Summary Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Final Score | Littler 18–13 Wade |
| Coming From | Behind 0–5 early |
| Three‑dart average | 107.24 |
| 180s in Final | 17 (tournament record) |
| Prize | £200,000 |
| Achievements | Youngest World Matchplay champion & youngest Triple Crown winner |
✅ Sources
TalkSport: "Luke Littler creates darts history…"
Sky Sports: "World Matchplay 2025: Littler beats Wade…"
BBC / Guardian / PDC reports: combined match recap and stats
Sky Sports also covered his intentions to dominate future majors