Luke Littler continues major title spree at the Players Championship Finals
Luke Littler sealed his sixth major title of the season at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead with an 11-8 victory over Nathan Aspinall in the final.
Fresh from retaining the Grand Slam title a week earlier, the teenage sensation made it back-to-back major triumphs as he romped to the £120,000 top prize at the Butlins Minehead Resort.
The new world number one joins Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen as only the third player in PDC history to claim six major ranking titles in a single season and moves to fourth on the all-time list of PDC major winners in less than two years on the tour.
The 18-year-old succumbed to his great rival Luke Humphries in last year’s final, but went one better by fending off a typically tenacious Aspinall to add to his ever-growing silverware spree.
Littler looked poised to cruise to victory after racing into an 8-4 lead, but he was forced to fend off a spirited fightback from the Stockport star to triumph with a 103.3 average.
“I’m very proud to lift this trophy, and now it’s all eyes on the big one at the World Championship,” said Littler, who boasted a remarkable tournament average of 105.58 across his six matches.
“Nathan has been playing very well for a while, so I just had to dig in at the end there.
“I know I’ve played brilliantly in this tournament, and I’m glad I got the job done.
“Early on in my career I was just being myself, but now I’m starting to let out a bit more emotion and it’s paying off.”
Littler was imperious from start to finish across the weekend, averaging 104, 107 and 102 in wins over Jeffrey de Graaf, Ross Smith and Ricardo Pietreczko to confirm his place in the quarter-finals.
The Warrington ace maintained that relentless standard on Sunday, producing blistering displays to prevail in high-quality affairs against Chris Dobey and Gerwyn Price.
Littler averaged 107.8 to complete a 10-5 victory over Dobey – who missed double 18 for a nine-darter in the early stages – before averaging 108.48 and landing ten 180s to see off Price 11-8 in a thrilling semi-final.
The reigning World Champion was similarly explosive in the early stages against Aspinall, backing up a brace of 15-darters with an 11-dart hold to establish an advantage that he maintained for much of the contest.
Littler created clear daylight at 8-4 following a trademark mid-match burst, only for Aspinall to produce 87, 127 and 86 checkouts to reduce the arrears to 9-8 and threaten a remarkable fightback.
However, Littler thwarted that prospect with an immediate 14-dart break of throw, before following up a sublime 171 set-up shot with an 88 outshot on double six to cap off another milestone victory.
Aspinall was bidding for his third televised ranking title, although his exploits in Minehead have seen him reclaim a place in the world’s top 16 ahead of next month’s World Championship.
Having swept aside Karel Sedlacek and Richard Veenstra to reach the Last 16, Aspinall battled his way into the semi-finals with consecutive 10-8 wins over Danny Noppert and Josh Rock.
The Stockport star then ran out a comprehensive 11-2 winner against Jermaine Wattimena in the Last Four, which confirms his qualification for next year’s Grand Slam of Darts.
“It’s been a fantastic weekend for myself to make the final,” reflected Aspinall. “I don’t know what I can say but I don’t care, I’m absolutely b*lloxed!”
“I’m back in the top 16 where I belong, and that was a big target coming into the weekend.
“I always get amazing support here in Minehead, but I’ve got to congratulate Luke. The guy is incredible.
“He’s a good mate of mine as everyone knows. What he’s done for this game is incredible, and I was happy to share the stage with him tonight.”
Wattimena’s run to a second major semi-final included wins over Wesley Plaisier, Ryan Joyce and 2021 runner-up Ryan Searle, and he booked his spot in the Last Four with a terrific 10-8 victory over James Wade in Sunday afternoon’s quarter-finals.
The Dutchman pinned 62 per cent of his attempts at doubles to register a fourth consecutive win over Wade, wrapping up victory with a sensational 156 checkout.
Wattimena was joined in the semi-finals by top seed Price – who followed up a trio of convincing wins against Max Hopp, Sebastian Bialecki and Martin Schindler with a 10-6 success against 2018 champion Daryl Gurney in the quarter-finals.
The Welshman reeled off five consecutive legs to topple the Northern Irishman, before succumbing to an impregnable Littler, despite averaging 102.
Meanwhile, Gian van Veen retained the PDC World Youth Championship title with a 6-3 victory over Beau Greaves in the final.
The 23-year-old produced a polished display to deny Greaves and scoop the £12,000 top prize, which saw him emulate Dimitri Van den Bergh and become the second player to win successive World Youth Championship titles.
“I’m over the moon. It feels really good to retain my title,” said Van Veen, also the runner-up to Luke Littler in 2023.
“I’m only the second player to retain the title after Dimitri, and to see what Dimi has done since – winning the World Matchplay and UK Open – I think they are encouraging signs for myself.
“Of course I won my first major title a couple of weeks ago, but we all know Beau is a fantastic player, so this gives me a massive confidence boost going into the World Championship.
“Ally Pally hasn’t been my favourite hunting ground. I haven’t won a game there yet, but I’m a completely different player to 12 months ago, so I’m really looking forward to it.
“This weekend has given me massive confidence, not just beating Beau but also beating Luke Humphries on Friday, so hopefully it’s going to be my year.”
Players Championship Finals 2025 Day Three Results
Sunday November 23
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price 10-6 Daryl Gurney
Luke Littler 10-5 Chris Dobey
Nathan Aspinall 10-8 Josh Rock
James Wade 8-10 Jermaine Wattimena
Evening Session
Semi-Finals
Luke Littler 11-8 Gerwyn Price
Nathan Aspinall 11-2 Jermaine Wattimena
Final
Luke Littler 11-8 Nathan Aspinall
PDC World Youth Championship Final
Gian van Veen 6-3 Beau Greaves
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