In the high-stakes world of professional darts, where precision meets pressure and the oche becomes a battlefield, few moments rival the sheer drama of an underdog’s triumph. On October 15, 2025, at the PDC Players Championship in Wigan, England, the arena crackled with anticipation as 18-year-old world champion Luke “The Nuke” Littler squared off against the resurgent American powerhouse, Griffin G. What unfolded was a match for the ages—a nail-biting, leg-by-leg thriller that saw Littler claw his way to a stunning 6-5 victory, etching another chapter in his meteoric rise.
Littler, fresh off a heartbreaking 6-5 semi-final exit to Beau Greaves in the World Youth Championship just days prior, entered the fray with fire in his eyes. The Warrington wonder, already the youngest PDC World Champion in history after his 2025 Alexandra Palace masterclass against Michael van Gerwen, has redefined darts’ generational shift. At world number two, with seven major titles under his belt—including the recent World Grand Prix demolition of Luke Humphries—Littler arrived in Wigan nursing bruised qualification hopes for the upcoming Players Championship Finals. A first-round flop the day before had left him teetering outside the top 64, making this clash with Griffin G a must-win redemption arc.
Griffin G, the 28-year-old from Las Vegas, was no mere speed bump. Nicknamed “The Therapist” for his cool-headed demeanor, Griffin has been a thorn in the PDC’s side since earning his Tour Card in 2023. With a string of deep runs in ProTour events and a reputation for blistering 180s, he arrived riding a wave of confidence. Earlier that week, he’d dispatched a trio of British stalwarts, averaging over 98 in his last outing. Analysts pegged this as a potential banana skin for Littler: Griffin’s double-heavy finishing (hitting 45% on outs in recent form) could exploit any rust from the teenager’s packed schedule.
The match ignited like a powder keg. Griffin stormed to a 2-0 lead in the opening set, his laser-guided trebles pinning Littler back. The crowd, a sea of Union Jacks and the odd Stars and Stripes, held its breath as “The Nuke” missed three darts at double 16 for the set. But darts is a game of momentum’s cruel whims, and Littler flipped the script. A ruthless 121 checkout on double 18 snagged the third leg, and suddenly, the set was level at 2-2. Littler’s trademark swagger emerged—two 180s in the decider, followed by a clinical 76 finish. Set one: Littler 3-2.
The middle sets were a symphony of savagery. Griffin, undeterred, unleashed a 14-dart hold in set two’s opener, his average spiking to 102. Yet Littler, channeling the poise that felled van Gerwen, responded with a near-perfect leg: six perfect darts into a missed nine-darter setup, salvaged by a 72 out. By set three, the scores were knotted 1-1 overall, with both men trading 100+ checkouts like verbal jabs in a prizefight. Griffin’s experience shone in set four, where he edged a 3-2 win on the back of a 170 maximum, forcing Littler to the brink.
But heroes are forged in fire. Trailing 5-4 in the final set, Littler summoned vintage magic. A 180 opener silenced the skeptics, and a break of throw via a 134 finish flipped the script. The decider leg was pure theater: Griffin on 32, Littler on 81. The American wired double 16 twice, hearts pounding. Enter The Nuke—treble 20, treble 19, bullseye. 6-5. The Wigan crowd erupted, a roar that echoed the Ally Pally pandemonium of his world title night.
This wasn’t just a win; it was vindication. Littler’s match average of 98.7 trumped Griffin’s 96.2, but the real story was resilience. Post-match, the teen phenom grinned: “Griffin’s a beast—those doubles had me sweating. But I came here to fight, and that’s what darts demands.” For Griffin, gracious in defeat, it was a valiant effort that boosts his Order of Merit climb.
As the Players Championship series hurtles toward its climax, Littler’s surge catapults him back into Finals contention. With three events left, a top finish could secure his spot in Minehead. Darts’ new era isn’t just dawning—it’s exploding. In a sport of wire-thin margins, Littler’s upset reminds us: legends aren’t born; they’re built, one dart at a time.
Leave a Reply