In a dazzling display of darts brilliance, 18-year-old Luke Littler, dubbed “The Nuke,” cemented his status as a global phenomenon by clinching the 2025 New Zealand Darts Masters title in Auckland. On August 16, Littler delivered a masterclass, defeating world number one Luke Humphries 8-4 in a final that saw him post a staggering 115.02 average—the highest ever recorded in a World Series event final. This victory, hot on the heels of his Australian Darts Masters win the previous week, marked Littler’s fifth World Series title and extended his remarkable 13-match winning streak. Humphries, gracious in defeat, summed up Littler’s performance with a single word: “untouchable.”
Littler’s journey to the Auckland crown was a testament to his growing dominance. After a shaky first-round performance against New Zealand’s Mark Cleaver, where he averaged 95.60 and failed to hit a single 180, Littler found his rhythm on Finals Night at the Spark Arena. He dispatched Mike De Decker 6-2 in the quarter-finals, marking his sixth straight win over the Belgian, before dismantling 2022 champion Gerwyn Price 7-2 in the semi-finals with a near-109 average. The final against Humphries, their first clash since the Premier League final in May, saw Littler race to a 3-0 lead, only to be pegged back to 3-2. Undeterred, he rattled off three consecutive legs to lead 6-3, sealing the match with back-to-back 11-darters. “It felt very much the same as last week,” Littler reflected, referring to his Australian triumph. “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 electric atmosphere at Spark Arena, described by Littler as “like a Premier League night,” fueled his performance. A practice-room nine-darter during the interval boosted his confidence, with Littler noting, “That’s when I felt like no one could beat me. I knew the trebles were going in.” His seven maximums in the final, part of 15 across the day, underscored his relentless scoring power. The victory, celebrated with his image projected onto Auckland’s Sky Tower, was a moment of pride for the teenager, who added, “The crowd were brilliant and the venue was incredible—I’m very happy to lift another title.”
Humphries, the defending champion, put up a valiant fight, averaging 102 and landing seven 180s in the final. His path included a 6-2 win over Damon Heta in the quarter-finals and a 7-4 victory against Chris Dobey in the semi-finals. Yet, Littler’s brilliance left little room for a comeback. “I played pretty well today, but when you run into a 115 average, there’s not much you can do,” Humphries admitted. “I think if I’d won that sixth leg it might have given me a glimmer of hope, but the better player won for sure. When Luke’s on it, he’s untouchable.” This defeat marked Littler’s fourth consecutive win over Humphries, tipping their head-to-head record to 8-7 in Littler’s favor.
Littler’s 2025 has been nothing short of extraordinary. Fresh off his World Matchplay triumph in July, where he became the youngest player to win the Phil Taylor Trophy, he added the Australian and New Zealand titles to his cabinet, bringing his career World Series tally to five. His 558 maximums this year, a figure unmatched in the PDC, highlight his scoring prowess, while his six televised nine-darters set a new single-season record. “I just want to win everything that comes my way,” Littler declared, eyeing the European Tour event in Antwerp as his next target. His confidence is palpable, especially after Humphries publicly called him the world’s best player, a claim Littler found surprising. “Yeah, I was surprised. He’s world number one, and I’ve said plenty of times, until I get to world number one I won’t call myself the best player,” he responded.
The darts world is buzzing with the “Littler effect,” with viewership soaring—3.7 million tuned into his 2024 World Championship final—and youth participation in the sport surging. As Littler prepares for the Players Championship 24 in Leicester on August 25 and the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam from September 12-14, where he aims to defend his 2024 title, his trajectory suggests no limits. Humphries, despite his recent struggles, remains a formidable rival, but Littler’s Auckland performance has set a new benchmark. “I’m playing very well at the moment, I’m enjoying my darts, and hopefully I can keep this winning streak going,” Littler said, a statement that resonates as both a promise and a warning to the darts elite.
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