In the electric atmosphere of Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre, 18-year-old darts prodigy Luke Littler, known as “The Nuke,” turned taunts into triumph, clinching the 2025 Australian Darts Masters with an 8-4 victory over Mike De Decker. The reigning PDC World Champion faced a barrage of crowd jeers, including a bizarre claim that he was “washed,” but responded with the poise of a veteran, letting his darts do the talking. “There was a group to my right… every time I didn’t hit a treble they were shouting ‘rubbish, rubbish’. Someone even said I was washed,” Littler revealed post-match. “I’m not sure what he meant, obviously I’m ‘washed’ but I just won.”
Littler’s path to his fourth World Series title was a rollercoaster of resilience. In the first round, he narrowly escaped an upset against New Zealand’s Haupai Puha, winning 6-5 in a final-leg decider after a controversial move to set up a 170 “Big Fish” checkout. Critics called the tactic “disrespectful,” but Littler brushed it off: “I don’t even know. I think just for myself. Obviously, at that point, I was 5-4 up… But I just felt I’d try and leave it and finish it.” The teenager then dispatched Australian favorite Damon Heta 6-3 in the quarter-finals and top seed Stephen Bunting 7-4 in the semi-finals, showcasing his trademark power scoring and clinical finishing.
The final against De Decker, a World Series debutant who stunned World No. 1 Luke Humphries 6-0 earlier, was Littler’s moment to shine. Trailing 2-2, he unleashed a 143 checkout and an 11-darter, finishing with a 110 average to secure the £30,000 prize. The victory was especially sweet after last year’s 8-1 loss to Gerwyn Price in the same event. “I think any losing final motivates me because you always want to come back and do one better,” Littler said. “Debut last year didn’t go to plan, but second time lucky.” His girlfriend, Faith Millar, cheered from the 5,000-strong crowd as Littler celebrated a redemption arc that silenced his detractors.
The heckling began from his opening match and intensified in the final, with a vocal group pouncing on every missed treble. Yet, Littler’s mental fortitude, honed by his rapid rise to darts stardom, shone through. “I think for myself, the first time I hear it, I’ll react,” he admitted. “But then I’ll let it go by and just let my darts do the talking. No one’s taught me how to deal with much — you’re on stage alone, no one else is going to help you.” His cheeky mimicry of the crowd’s jeers during his match against Heta, where he faced boos, drew laughs and showcased his ability to thrive under pressure.
Littler’s 2025 season has been a masterclass in resilience. After a five-month title drought, his World Matchplay win in July reignited his hunger. “As a world champion, you need to be winning things,” he explained. “It took five months, but to go on and win the Matchplay meant everything. Now I’ve won here as well, and I’ve just got that winning feeling back in me.” Remarkably, he revealed he hadn’t practiced since Blackpool, relying on instinct: “I practised really well for the Matchplay… so I think I’ll practise for the big ones.”
As a Manchester United fan, Littler’s off-stage persona remains grounded. Excited about the club’s signing of Benjamin Šeško, he predicted a top-five Premier League finish. With the New Zealand Darts Masters next, Littler plans to enjoy a brief respite: “We can make the most of four or five days. Once Friday comes, that’s when the darts start again.” His dominance at 18, coupled with his ability to shrug off taunts, suggests a career destined for greatness, leaving opponents and hecklers alike struggling to keep up.
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