In a thrilling display of darts prowess, 18-year-old Luke Littler clinched the 2025 World Matchplay title, defeating James Wade 18-13 in a high-octane final at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on July 27, 2025. The victory marked Littler’s completion of darts’ coveted Triple Crown—World Championship, Premier League, and World Matchplay—making him the fifth player to achieve the feat alongside legends Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, and Luke Humphries. However, the match was not without drama, as Wade’s abrupt exit from the stage and complaints about crowd behavior stirred controversy, reigniting discussions about his conduct and drawing comments from darts icon Phil Taylor about a rare moment when Wade admitted to giving up.
Littler, the world No. 2, started the final disastrously, trailing 5-0 as Wade, the 2007 champion, unleashed an 11-dart hold and clinical 80 and 83 checkouts. “Five-nil down once again, I said, ‘I’ve been here before, what are you doing?’” Littler told reporters, reflecting on his resilience. He roared back, winning nine of the next 11 legs with a blistering 113.86 average in the second session, leveling the score at 5-5. Littler’s 17 maximums and 107.24 average overwhelmed Wade, who averaged 101.54 and hit 44.8% of his doubles. A near-second nine-darter in leg 22, after his semi-final perfection against Josh Rock, underscored Littler’s dominance. “This means absolutely everything,” Littler said, clutching the Phil Taylor Trophy. “Phil is my idol—he won here 16 times, and now my name is on this trophy.”
Wade, 42, was no pushover, reaching his seventh Matchplay final with a 100.83 tournament average, including a 104.44 in his first-round win over Joe Cullen. His semi-final victory over Jonny Clayton (20-18) was a testament to his enduring class, but the final saw tensions flare. Wade complained about a heckling fan in the VIP section, briefly halting play to address referee Huw Ware. Littler, spotted signing autographs during a break, later discussed the incident with Ware, explaining Wade’s concerns. Post-match, Wade’s swift exit while Littler received the trophy drew ire from fans, with some booing and others criticizing his lack of media engagement. “I can’t believe that,” one fan posted online, highlighting a perceived breach of etiquette.
Phil Taylor, the 16-time Matchplay champion, weighed in, recalling a rare instance when Wade admitted to mentally checking out during a match against him years ago. “He was gone,” Taylor said, noting it was the only time he saw Wade surrender. This contrasted with Wade’s tenacity in Blackpool, where he fought back with a 101 checkout to close the gap to 14-13. Yet, Littler’s relentless scoring, capped by a 115 checkout on double 19, sealed the win. “James started to drop off a bit, and I started to find my best darts,” Littler reflected.
The controversy deepened with Wade’s pre-match comments, where he felt overlooked by broadcasters despite his stellar play. “I probably played some of the better darts out of all players, and the whole Sky build-up didn’t show me once,” he said earlier in the tournament, expressing frustration at the media’s focus on younger stars like Littler. Despite this, Wade was gracious in defeat, telling Littler, “Well played, brilliant tournament, and well done to you.” Littler acknowledged Wade’s improvement since their 11-2 UK Open final clash in March: “He’s definitely got a lot better since the UK Open.”
Littler’s victory, his first since the Belgian Darts Open, added £200,000 to his £1.5m earnings, closing the gap on world No. 1 Humphries. “I’ve only got a few majors left to tick off,” Littler said, eyeing the World Grand Prix and others. Wade, now world No. 5, aims for a strong Alexandra Palace run to secure a Premier League spot. The match, a clash of generations, showcased Littler’s unstoppable rise and Wade’s resilience, but the lingering row over crowd behavior and sportsmanship ensures this final will be remembered for more than just darts.
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