In a thrilling display of skill and resilience, 18-year-old darts prodigy Luke Littler clinched his first World Series of Darts title of 2025 at the Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong, defeating Mike De Decker 8-4 in a captivating final. The victory marked a significant milestone for the young world champion, who overcame not only a formidable opponent but also a barrage of taunts from a rowdy Australian crowd, proving his mettle under pressure.
Littler, known as “The Nuke,” entered the tournament as the reigning world and World Matchplay champion, yet he had been searching for his first World Series win of the season. His journey to the final was far from straightforward. In the opening round, he narrowly escaped an upset against New Zealand’s Haupai Puha, winning a tense 6-5 final-leg decider. This match sparked controversy when Littler deliberately aimed for a single one instead of completing a 180, setting up a potential “Big Fish” 170 checkout. The move, which some fans deemed disrespectful, backfired when he missed the bullseye, allowing Puha to force a deciding leg. Reflecting on the decision, Littler admitted, “I don’t even know. I think just for myself. Obviously, at that point, I was 5-4 up. Maybe I should have tried hitting the 180.” Despite the criticism, he battled through, showcasing the grit that has defined his meteoric rise.
The young star’s path continued with a 6-3 victory over home favorite Damon Heta in the quarter-finals, followed by a commanding 7-4 win against top seed Stephen Bunting in the semi-finals. These performances set the stage for a showdown with De Decker, a World Series debutant who had stunned world number one Luke Humphries with a 6-0 whitewash earlier in the tournament. In the final, Littler’s power scoring proved too much for the Belgian, as he seized control with a 133 checkout to lead 3-2 and broke De Decker’s throw to enter the interval with a 110 average. Even a rare stumble—missing six attempts at double-16 when leading 6-3—couldn’t derail his momentum, as he sealed the 8-4 victory to the delight of his girlfriend, Faith Millar, among the 5,000-strong sell-out crowd.
However, the victory was not without its challenges off the oche. Littler revealed that a group of spectators to his right relentlessly heckled him throughout the final, shouting “rubbish, rubbish” every time he missed a treble. One fan went further, branding the teenager “washed”—a cutting insult suggesting he was past his prime. With characteristic wit, Littler brushed off the taunt, saying, “Someone said I was washed. Not sure what he meant, obviously I’m washed but I just won.” His ability to thrive under such pressure highlighted not only his technical prowess but also his mental fortitude, a trait that has endeared him to fans worldwide.
This triumph was particularly sweet for Littler, who had suffered a crushing 8-1 defeat to Gerwyn Price in the 2024 Australian Darts Masters final. Reflecting on his redemption, he said, “It feels very good. It’s another one I can tick off.” He also noted the motivation drawn from last year’s loss: “Yeah, I think losing any final motivates me because you always want to come back and do one better. Obviously, as a world champion, you need to be winning things.” His victory adds to an already illustrious resume, which includes World Series titles in Bahrain, Poland, and the Netherlands in 2024, as well as the Premier League crown.
De Decker, gracious in defeat, humorously remarked, “He needs to retire because it’s not fun anymore,” acknowledging Littler’s dominance. The young champion, however, is far from finished. With the New Zealand Darts Masters looming from August 15-16, Littler is poised to defend his title in Auckland, though he admitted the toll of jet lag: “We’ll have a good few days off, try and get some more sleep because us players don’t have it easy.”
Littler’s journey in Wollongong was a testament to his ability to rise above adversity, from tactical missteps to crowd hostility, cementing his status as one of darts’ brightest stars. As he continues to rewrite the record books, fans eagerly await his next chapter, where he’ll undoubtedly face new challenges—and new hecklers—with the same unflappable confidence.
Obviously the heckler who called Luke “washed” was one of the ‘Great unwashed’, a term meaning a person who doesn’t have money, power or social status, which Luke Littler has.