In a display of darts brilliance that left the sport’s elite in awe, 18-year-old Luke Littler, known as “The Nuke,” delivered a staggering 115.02 average to defeat world No. 1 Luke Humphries 8-4 in the 2025 New Zealand Darts Masters final. The performance, which set a new World Series final record, solidified Littler’s status as a generational talent and left Humphries, one of the game’s titans, feeling utterly helpless. “I played pretty well today, but when you run into a 115 average, there’s not much you can do,” Humphries admitted, his words capturing the sheer dominance of Littler’s display. “I felt powerless,” he added, a sentiment echoed by a captivated Auckland crowd witnessing history at Spark Arena.
Littler’s path to the title was a masterclass in precision and poise. Competing in the two-week World Series swing through Australia and New Zealand, he arrived in Auckland fresh off a victory in Wollongong. His campaign began with a 6-2 rout of local favorite Haupai Puha, followed by a 6-2 demolition of Mike De Decker in the quarter-finals, marking his sixth consecutive win over the Belgian. The semi-finals saw him dispatch Gerwyn Price 7-2 with a 108.81 average, setting the stage for his final showdown with Humphries. “It felt very much the same as last week,” Littler said, drawing parallels to his Australian Darts Masters win. “I had a shaky start in my opening game, but once you come into Finals Night you know you have to switch it on, and that’s what I did again tonight.”
The final was a spectacle, with Littler unleashing seven 180s, a 50% doubles hit rate, and a practice nine-darter during a break that fueled his belief in his invincibility. “That’s when I felt like no one could beat me,” he revealed, describing a rhythm where he rattled off four or five 140s in the closing legs. His use of 40mm points for tighter grouping and pinpoint accuracy on double 10 overwhelmed Humphries, who averaged a respectable 102 but could only watch as Littler surged to victory. “I was really good tonight and he couldn’t do much,” Littler noted, his understated confidence belying the magnitude of his achievement.
This 115.02 average, while not surpassing Michael van Gerwen’s televised record of 123.40 from a 2016 Premier League match, ranks among darts’ all-time greats, trailing only Phil Taylor’s 118.66 in the 2009 European Championship and Gary Anderson’s 117.29 in the 2011 Premier League. At 18, Littler’s performance is remarkable not just for its numbers but for its context—a high-pressure final against the world’s top-ranked player. His 13-match winning streak across all competitions, including the 2025 World Championship and World Matchplay, underscores his relentless form. “I just want to win everything that comes my way,” he declared, eyeing the Flanders Darts Trophy in Antwerp to extend his streak to four titles.
Humphries, despite the loss, showed his class, having battled through a 6-2 win over Damon Heta and a 7-4 victory against Chris Dobey to reach the final. “When Luke’s on it, he’s untouchable,” he said, praising the teenager’s ability to elevate their rivalry, which now sees Littler lead 8-7 head-to-head. The match, projected onto Auckland’s Sky Tower, symbolized “Littlermania,” a phenomenon driving darts’ global surge. Fans on social media were ecstatic, with one post exclaiming, “115 average at 18? He’s rewriting the game!” Another marveled at his progression: 95.60 in the first round, 100.03 in the quarters, 108.81 in the semis, and 115.02 in the final.
Littler’s journey, from a 16-year-old PDC World Championship finalist to the youngest world champion at 17 years, 11 months, is a testament to his prodigious talent. His £60,000 prize in Auckland pushed his career earnings past £1.5 million, a figure that reflects his meteoric rise. Supported by his girlfriend Faith Millar, who accompanied him on the grueling 23,000-mile trip, Littler remains grounded despite his newfound wealth, recently moving his family into a £6,000-a-month mansion near Warrington. As he sets his sights on Humphries’ No. 1 ranking, Littler’s 115.02 average stands as a bold declaration: the future of darts has arrived, and it’s untouchable.
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