Record-breaking Luke Littler emphatically retains World Matchplay title

Luke Littler culminated the greatest World Matchplay campaign in history by thrashing Gerwyn Price 18-9 to retain the Phil Taylor Trophy in Blackpool on Sunday.

Littler shattered a multitude of records across a pulsating nine days at the Winter Gardens, and he produced another unstoppable display to continue his extraordinary reign of darting dominance.

The teenage sensation obliterated Taylor’s previous record tournament average of 106.31 – set in 2010 – averaging an astounding 111.04 across his five matches.

The 19-year-old also recorded the highest average in a World Matchplay final, posting a mammoth 111.5 against Price to become the only fourth player to win back-to-back titles at the Empress Ballroom.

“It’s been a crazy week. It’s been one of the best weeks of my life,” declared Littler, who also landed 66 maximums throughout the event, eclipsing his own record set 12 months ago.

“The stats may look like it’s easy, but it’s not. I’m definitely playing some of the best darts of my life though.

“I feel like it’s been the best version of myself throughout the week.”

Littler remains on course to complete an unprecedented clean sweep of major honours this year, having also lifted World Championship, World Masters, UK Open, Premier League and World Cup titles in 2026.

The reigning World Champion is yet to compete in a Players Championship event this season, though he is now focused on securing qualification for November’s Players Championship Finals in a bid to preserve his chance of creating history.

“I’ve just been playing so well,” added Littler, who also swept aside Niko Springer, Nathan Aspinall, Josh Rock and Dirk van Duijvenbode en route to glory.

“I don’t think my dad is too happy because we were going to Spain, but now I have to go to Leicester and play some ProTours!

“I’ve won every major so far, so this is what I want to do.

“I’ve been checking the ProTour rankings and whoever is in 64th just keeps going up and up. There’s four [events] in Leicester that I’ve got to go to now.”

Littler was inspired from start to finish in Blackpool, landing a spectacular nine-darter in a classic against Aspinall, while registering individual averages of 109, 113, 109 and 110 in progressing to Sunday’s final.

Despite averaging 109 in the opening session, Price found himself trailing 4-1, as an unstoppable Littler backed up a magical 167 checkout with a clinical 110 finish to seize the early initiative.

The world number one then stretched his lead to 7-3 following another blistering barrage, producing back-to-back 11-darters and a nonchalant tops-tops 100 finish to elevate his average above 114.

Littler continued his breath-taking burst towards the title with another scintillating four-leg spell, reeling off legs of 12, 12, 11 and 12 darts with finishes of 128, 127, 87 and 84 to storm 11-3 ahead.

Price battled back admirably, winning six of the next ten legs to reduce the arrears to 15-9, only for an unflappable Littler to edge closer to victory with a 148 checkout – his sixth ton-plus finish of the contest.

The world number one refused to relent, firing in a 13-darter to move to the cusp of glory at 17-9, before sealing a historic triumph with an effortless 81 finish on the bull.

Price – featuring in his first televised ranking final since October 2023 – averaged 104.9 in defeat, the second-highest losing average ever in a World Matchplay final.

The Welshman overcame Martin Schindler, Rob Cross, Ross Smith and Gian van Veen in reaching Sunday’s decider, though he was full of praise for his inspired opponent.

“Luke is one in a million,” said Price, who usurps Jonny Clayton to become the new Welsh number one after pocketing £125,000 in prize money.

“I threw everything at him. I think I played pretty decent that game.

“The bull checkouts he was taking out, like the 167 at the beginning – as early as it was, that was a big turning point.

“If anyone is going to boo this kid, there’s something wrong with them. He’s fantastic for the sport.

“I wish he wasn’t as good as he was or I would have won a couple more tournaments!

“I’ll get back on the practice board and try my best, and hopefully I can get a little bit better.

“It’s been a great week for me, the fans have been brilliant, but I’m a little bit gutted as well.”

Victory for Littler sees him extend his lead at the top of the Order of Merit to a record £2.1 million ahead of his closest challenger Luke Humphries.