Darts results: Luke Littler becomes youngest World Matchplay champion and completes the PDC’s Triple Crown of majors

In the electrifying atmosphere of Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, 18-year-old darts prodigy Luke Littler etched his name into the annals of the sport on July 27, 2025, by defeating James Wade 18-13 to claim the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay title. At just 17 years and 187 days, Littler became the youngest champion in the tournament’s history, shattering the record previously set by Wade in 2007 at age 24. The victory, which earned him the Phil Taylor Trophy and a £200,000 prize, completed the Professional Darts Corporation’s (PDC) coveted Triple Crown—comprising the World Championship, Premier League, and World Matchplay—making Littler only the fifth player to achieve this feat, joining legends Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, and Luke Humphries. “This means absolutely everything,” Littler told reporters, his voice brimming with emotion. “Phil Taylor was my idol. He came here and won it 16 times, and now my name is on this trophy.”

Littler’s path to glory was a rollercoaster of resilience and brilliance. Facing 42-year-old Wade, a 2007 champion appearing in his seventh Matchplay final, Littler found himself trailing 5-0 after a blistering start from “The Machine,” who landed an 83 checkout and a 90 finish. Undeterred, Littler, nicknamed “The Nuke,” responded with a stunning sweep of five consecutive legs, leveling the score at 5-5 with legs won in 15 darts or less. “There’s been a few times in the past where I’ve got myself back into the game, but this past week has really shown me as a player that I can come back from 5-0 down,” Littler reflected. His performance was a masterclass, posting a 107.24 average—the third-highest in a Matchplay final—and a record-breaking 17 maximum 180s, surpassing Adrian Lewis’ previous tournament record of 56 with a total of 64. A near nine-darter in the 22nd leg, falling short after seven perfect darts, had the crowd roaring.

The tournament showcased Littler’s relentless drive. In the first round, he demolished Ryan Searle 10-2 with a 108.92 average, declaring, “I was well up for it tonight, I just wanted to get that win, get that winning feeling.” The second round tested his mettle, as he battled back from 7-3 down to defeat Jermaine Wattimena 13-11 in a tie-break thriller, admitting, “I have not felt pressure like that since the first round of the World Championships.” In the quarter-finals, he outlasted Andrew Gilding 16-14, setting a new record with 18 maximums. The semi-final against Josh Rock was a historic clash, with Littler firing a nine-darter—the tournament’s 10th ever—and overcoming a 6-1 deficit to win 17-14, with the match’s 29 combined 180s breaking another record. “It was an unbelievable game,” Littler said of the Rock match. “Fair play to Josh. He played his part in an amazing game.”

Littler’s Triple Crown journey began with his 2025 PDC World Championship win at 17, defeating Michael van Gerwen to become the youngest world champion. His 2024 Premier League title, secured on debut, and victories in the 2024 Grand Slam, World Series Finals, and 2025 UK Open have amassed him over £2 million in prize money in just 19 months as a professional. His 14 PDC titles, including five majors, rank him ninth in PDC history. Despite his youth, Littler’s composure is striking. “Since I started, I always said to myself, as long as I win one of every major then I’ll be happy,” he said, already eyeing the World Grand Prix and other unclaimed majors.

Born in Runcorn and raised in Warrington, Littler began playing darts at 18 months, scoring his first 180 at six and a nine-darter at 13. His meteoric rise, dubbed “Littlermania,” has revitalized darts, with his four televised nine-darters and scoring prowess on double 10 captivating fans. As he plans a well-deserved rest before the World Grand Prix, Littler’s Blackpool triumph—marked by a 115 checkout to seal the win—solidifies his status as a generational talent, with the darts world wondering just how many more records he’ll shatter.

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