Luke Littler eyes world number one spot by year's end

When teenage sensation Luke Littler claimed the 2025 Paddy Power PDC World Championship, he wasn’t even old enough to walk into one of their stores and put a fiver on a horse.

Nowadays, there are certain moments in life that confirm the inevitable: death, taxes, and Luke Littler hoovering up another darting title while still too young to remember dial-up internet. This time, it was Blackpool's turn to bow down, as the young juggernaut bulldozed through the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay, leaving James Wade, an array of the planet’s best arrow-smiths, and a decimated record book in his wake.

The 18-year-old from Warrington – who probably still gets asked for ID when buying energy drinks – added another trophy to his rapidly expanding museum of achievements by defeating Wade 18-13 in Sunday’s final at the Winter Gardens. A £200,000 payday, a record 64 maximums, and a few broken hearts later, Littler stood holding the Phil Taylor Trophy.

WATCH LUKE LITTLER LIFT THE PHIL TAYLOR TROPHY: 18-year-old becomes World Matchplay Champion

There’s a good chance a piece of PDC silverware will eventually bear his name too – after all, he already has a kebab dedicated to him. Slightly different I know.

“This means absolutely everything,” said Littler, doing his best not to grin like someone who just scored a 30-yard bicycle kick on FIFA.

“Phil Taylor was my idol. He came here and won it 16 times, and now my name is on that trophy. This is the one I wanted, this is the one I’ve practised for. It just goes to show how well I've been playing, and how much effort has been put in.

“I’ve really been tested this week, but I’ve shown my character by getting myself out of difficult situations.”

Indeed, while most people spend their teenage years failing their driving test or burning toast, Littler’s version of hardship includes casually erasing five-leg deficits. He trailed in three of his five matches, starting with a 7-2 hole against Jermaine Wattimena – until the Dutchman was dazzled by The Nuke’s headlights.

He then spotted Josh Rock five legs in the semi-finals, threw a perfect leg, and eventually clawed his way back against one of the world’s in-form players. Even in the final, he found himself 5-0 down to Wade – a man who could write the book on the World Matchplay and even give you a guided tour around the Winter Gardens.

LITTLER REACTS TO TRIPLE CROWN WIN: Luke Littler reacts after his historic win

Yet, Littler still found a way to beat a Blackpool don. In case anyone thought Littler’s rise might slow down after his UK Open win in March, the Matchplay has now confirmed it: the lad is collecting majors like Panini stickers.

“Obviously I want to conquer everything in this sport, and I've ticked this one off now,” said Littler, accidentally sending a shiver down the spine of every established professional over the age of 20.

"I want to win one of every major title and then we'll see what happens from there. I hadn’t picked up a trophy for a while, and that was obviously on the back of my mind in every tournament I went into, whether that was a European Tour or a ProTour event.

"Now I've picked up a trophy and hopefully I can pick up a few more towards the back end of the year.”

He now sits on a rather casual £1,500,500 on the Werner Rankings Ladder, which is less a ranking and more of a high-score board at this point. Only Luke Humphries, who will defend his 2024 Ally Pally winnings at the end of the year, stands above him. Just under £300,000 separates them – or, in Littler terms, roughly one good weekend and a curry.

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The youngster now joins an elite club of players to win the PDC Triple Crown – consisting of the World Championship, Premier League, and World Matchplay – a group exclusive to just Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, and Luke Humphries. The difference? Littler did it in about the same amount of time it takes most people to finish a Netflix series.

"I've looked at the rankings – I’m provisionally number one for the World Championship if Luke doesn't defend all that prize money,” he said, casually eyeing top spot.

"I'd love to be world number one, but we'll just have to find out. For myself, I’ll just try and add more money to my rankings.

"I think if you're number one then you are the best, no matter if you go out of tournaments early, but until I’m number one, I will never say I’m the best player in the world.”

Which is very modest, considering most of the darting world has already made that declaration for him. This is a kid who won the biggest prize in the sport without barely practising. Now that he is practising, it probably feels like a cheetah wearing a jetpack.

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