In the vibrant world of professional darts, where precision meets passion, 18-year-old Luke Littler, known as “The Nuke,” delivered a performance for the ages at the 2025 New Zealand Darts Masters in Auckland. On a historic Saturday night at Spark Arena, Littler clinched an 8-4 victory over world number one Luke Humphries, posting a staggering 115.02 average to secure his second consecutive World Series title. This triumph, following his Australian Darts Masters win just a week earlier, solidified Littler’s reputation as a generational talent. Humphries, gracious in defeat, summed up his rival’s brilliance with a single word: “When he’s on it, he’s untouchable.”
The final was a showcase of Littler’s relentless scoring and calm finishing, captivating a record-breaking crowd at Spark Arena. The atmosphere, electric and reminiscent of a Premier League night, fueled Littler’s performance as he raced to a 3-0 lead with clinical precision. Humphries, the defending champion, fought back with 13- and 11-dart holds, narrowing the gap to two legs, but Littler sealed the victory with back-to-back 11-darters, including a 170 checkout that left spectators in awe. Reflecting on the match, Littler admitted, “It felt very much the same as last week. 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.” His confidence was palpable as he added, “I felt unbeatable up there. The crowd were brilliant and the venue was incredible.”
Littler’s path to the final was no less dominant. In the quarter-finals, he dispatched Mike De Decker 6-2, landing another 170 checkout and maintaining his perfect 6-0 record against the Belgian. The semi-finals saw him overpower Gerwyn Price 7-2, averaging close to 109 and dropping just two legs. Humphries, meanwhile, advanced with a 6-2 win over Damon Heta and a 7-4 victory against Chris Dobey, averaging 102 and hitting seven 180s in the semi-final. Despite his strong showing, Humphries acknowledged Littler’s superiority, saying, “I played pretty well today, but when you run into a 115 average, there’s not much you can do. 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.”
This victory marked Littler’s fourth World Series title and extended his winning streak to 13 matches across all competitions, including his recent World Matchplay triumph. The teenager’s meteoric rise, which began with a runner-up finish at the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship, shows no signs of slowing. His image beamed across Auckland’s iconic Sky Tower after the win, a fitting tribute to a champion who thrives under pressure. “I’m playing very well at the moment, I’m enjoying my darts, and hopefully I can keep this winning streak going,” Littler said, already eyeing the European Tour in Antwerp.
Humphries, despite the loss, remains a formidable force. His candid reflections on his form, which he described as “depressing” after a lackluster 6-3 win over Haupai Puha in the first round, reveal the challenges of maintaining peak performance. “I think the last two months it has been hard work,” he admitted, yet his 102 average in the final underscored his resilience. The rivalry between Littler and Humphries, now at 13-10 in Littler’s favor across 23 meetings, is shaping up to be one of darts’ greatest. Their clashes, from the 2024 World Championship final to the 2025 Premier League, have captivated fans, with Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle predicting, “These two could have darts sewn up.”
Off the oche, Littler’s personal life adds depth to his story. Accompanied by his girlfriend, Faith Millar, during the Australian leg, Littler has leaned on her support amidst his manager’s illness and online scrutiny. His family, including parents Lisa and Anthony, and sister Caitlin, who runs his fan club, remain his bedrock. With career earnings exceeding £1.5 million and a new home near Warrington, Littler’s journey is as much about personal growth as it is about darts dominance. As he prepares for the World Series finals in Amsterdam, where he is the defending champion, Littler’s blend of talent, poise, and ambition ensures that the darts world will be watching closely, wondering just how far “The Nuke” can go.
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