In a dazzling display of darts mastery, 18-year-old Luke Littler, dubbed “The Nuke,” has solidified his reputation as a phenomenon by clinching the New Zealand Darts Masters title in Auckland, just one week after dominating the Australian Darts Masters. The young star from Warrington, England, delivered a breathtaking performance, defeating world number one Luke Humphries 8-4 in the final with a staggering 115.02 average—the highest ever recorded in a World Series event final. Humphries, gracious in defeat, branded his rival “untouchable,” admitting, “I played pretty well today, but when you run into a 115 average, there’s not much you can do. The better player won for sure.” Littler’s latest triumph, cheered on by his girlfriend Faith Millar, marks his fourth consecutive victory over Humphries, edging him ahead 8-7 in their career head-to-head and fueling speculation about his potential to claim the world number one spot.
Littler’s journey to the Auckland crown was a showcase of resilience and brilliance. On Friday, he faced a nervy first-round match against New Zealand’s Mark Cleaver, scraping through 6-4 without landing a single 180. “I had a shaky start in my opening game,” Littler reflected, acknowledging the pressure of the World Series stage. But by finals night at the Spark Arena, he was a different player, unleashing 15 maximums, including seven in the final alone. He dismantled Mike De Decker 6-2 in the quarter-finals and Gerwyn Price 7-2 in the semi-finals, dropping just four legs across both matches. Against Humphries, Littler surged to a 3-0 lead, faltered briefly as the world champion clawed back to 3-2, but then rattled off three consecutive legs to take command at 6-3. He sealed the victory with successive 11-dart legs, leaving the 5,000-strong crowd in awe. “It felt very much the same as last week,” Littler said, comparing the Auckland win to his Australian triumph. “I felt unbeatable up there. The crowd was brilliant, and the venue was incredible—it felt like a Premier League night.”
Humphries, the 2025 Premier League champion, fought valiantly to reach the final, overcoming Damon Heta 6-2 and Chris Dobey 7-4. Yet, even his formidable skill couldn’t match Littler’s onslaught. “When Luke’s on it, he’s untouchable,” Humphries conceded, adding, “I held in there and I gave it my best, but he was just too good in the end.” The loss marked a rare setback for Humphries, who has won eight PDC major titles, including the 2024 World Championship, where he defeated a then-16-year-old Littler 7-4. Their rivalry, defined by mutual respect rather than animosity, has become a cornerstone of darts’ booming popularity, with the duo combining for 17 titles and £2.5 million in prize money in 2024 alone. Littler’s latest victories have pushed his career earnings past £2.1 million, closing the gap on Humphries’ £3.3 million and bringing him within £300,000 of the world number one ranking.
Littler’s meteoric rise began with his fairy-tale run to the 2024 World Championship final, where he captivated audiences by defeating former champions Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross before falling to Humphries. Since then, he’s completed darts’ Triple Crown—World Championship, Premier League, and World Matchplay—becoming the youngest player to do so at the 2025 World Matchplay in Blackpool, where he averaged 107.24 against James Wade. His New Zealand triumph, following his Australian success against Mike De Decker, underscores his dominance in the World Series, where he now holds three titles. “I’m playing very well at the moment, I’m enjoying my darts,” Littler declared, eyeing the upcoming World Series Finals in Amsterdam from September 12-14, where he’s the defending champion after an 11-4 rout of Michael Smith last year.
Off the oche, Littler’s personal life has drawn attention, with Faith Millar, his 19-year-old girlfriend from Wigan, proving a steadfast supporter. The couple, who went public in July, faced online trolling but have remained resilient. “I just said, ‘They’re jealous. They wanna ruin us,’” Littler shared, defending Faith against negativity. Her presence in Auckland, as in Australia, coincided with his flawless performances, prompting fans to call her his good luck charm. As Littler prepares for Amsterdam, his warning to rivals resonates: “I just want to win everything that comes my way.” With a third televised nine-darter this year and a record-breaking 140.91 set average at the 2025 World Championship, where he defeated Michael van Gerwen 7-3, Littler’s trajectory suggests he’s not just chasing records—he’s rewriting them.
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