The 2025 UK Open final in Minehead delivered a spectacle that left darts fans both awestruck and apprehensive. Teenage sensation Luke Littler, the reigning world champion, obliterated three-time champion James Wade with a commanding 11-2 victory, securing his first UK Open title and a £110,000 prize. Littler’s dominant performance, marked by nine 180s and a 101.51 average, showcased his prodigious talent, but it also ignited a polarizing theory among fans: is Littler’s dominance making darts too predictable? While some celebrated the 18-year-old’s brilliance, others expressed concern that the sport’s competitive edge might be dulling under his relentless reign.
From the moment Littler stepped onto the oche, the final was a masterclass in precision and confidence. The Warrington wonderkid surged to a 5-0 lead in just over eight minutes, his rapid-fire throws and clinical finishes leaving Wade, nicknamed “The Machine,” struggling to keep pace. Littler’s average soared above 120 in the opening legs, only dipping briefly after missing doubles in the fifth. By the time he reached 9-0, a whitewash seemed imminent. Wade, hampered by a hand injury after accidentally stabbing himself with a dart, managed to scrape two legs with checkouts of 85 and a scrappy double five, but it was too little, too late. Littler sealed the victory with a double six, lifting the trophy to rapturous applause. “It’s one I’ve wanted to win,” Littler declared. “It’s my third time here. I came here two years ago as a 16-year-old, last year I was in the quarter-final, and now I’ve gone two better this year to win it.”
Wade, gracious in defeat, acknowledged Littler’s superiority. “He absolutely bashed me to bits,” the 41-year-old admitted. “I’m the senior dart player, but he was the far superior player, as much as it kills me to admit it. Fair play to Luke—at the moment, he’s probably the best or the second-best darts player in the world comfortably.” Wade’s run to the final was no small feat, having ousted world number one Luke Humphries in a thrilling 10-9 quarter-final and crushed Josh Rock 11-2 in the semis. Yet, against Littler, he managed only a 11.76% checkout rate and an 88.06 average, underscoring the gulf in form.
The one-sided final prompted a wave of reactions online, with fans divided over Littler’s impact on darts. Some expressed awe at his consistency, with one supporter proclaiming, “Littler’s incredible, but I fear this year of darts will be very boring.” Others worried that his dominance could overshadow the sport’s competitive spirit, noting, “There doesn’t seem to be the elite-level talent there once was. The only player close to Littler now is Humphries, and then there’s a big gap below to the rest.” These sentiments reflect a broader concern that Littler’s rivals—save for Humphries, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, and a resurgent Michael van Gerwen—may struggle to challenge his supremacy in major tournaments.
However, not all fans shared this pessimism. Some pointed to the depth of talent in the PDC, citing five different winners in Players Championship events, World Masters, and Premier League nights in 2025. “Not sure it’ll be as boring as you think,” one fan countered, highlighting the unpredictability of darts despite Littler’s hot streak. Littler himself dismissed fears of invincibility, emphasizing his hunger for more titles. “Once you win one title, you’re hungry for even more,” he said. “I can feel the players around me—they don’t want to draw me. But I’ll play anyone. It doesn’t matter who it is.”
Littler’s victory, his fifth PDC major in under a year, has intensified his pursuit of Humphries’ world number one ranking. With a grueling schedule ahead, including the Pro Tour, European Tour, and Premier League, Littler’s focus remains unwavering. For Wade, the runner-up prize of £50,000 and a climb to 12th in the world rankings offered consolation after a strong tournament. Yet, the night belonged to Littler, whose performance in Minehead cemented his status as darts’ brightest star—and sparked a debate about whether his brilliance is a blessing or a challenge for the sport’s future.
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