Luke Littler Dominates World Matchplay, Reaches Final Against Gerwyn Price
Luke Littler, world No. 1 darts player, continued his dominant run at the 2026 World Matchplay in Blackpool, hitting a nine-darter and posting record averages. He defeated Nathan Aspinall, Josh Rock, and Dirk van Duijvenbode (17-5) to reach the final against Gerwyn Price. Littler aims to become the first back-to-back Matchplay champion since Michael van Gerwen in 2016, having won 28 consecutive matches over 20 legs.
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Luke Littler Targets 2026 Majors Clean Sweep After World Matchplay Win
Luke Littler, the 19-year-old PDC World Champion, has declared that a clean sweep of all eight ranking majors in 2026 is 'very much on' after his dominant World Matchplay victory in Blackpool. Littler broke Phil Taylor's Matchplay record average with a tournament average of 111.04, and has already won every PDC title this year including the World Championship, World Masters, UK Open, Premier League, and World Cup. Speaking at the unveiling of a mural in his hometown of Warrington, Littler expressed confidence in his form, stating that with performances like that, 'not many can stop me.' He acknowledged the challenge of maintaining focus on upcoming tournaments, including the Players Championship Finals, World Series, and European events, while also looking forward to a holiday in Orlando. Littler noted that no player has ever achieved a clean sweep of all eight ranking titles in a calendar year, and he aims to break that record.
Luke Littler Dominance Debate: Is He the Most Dominant Sportsperson in the World?
Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler has sparked debate over whether he is the most dominant sportsperson in the world after winning the World Matchplay Darts for the second consecutive year, defeating Gerwyn Price 18-9 in the final. Littler has won every PDC major title in 2026 so far. Sky Sports' Love The Darts podcast pundits Laura Turner and Chris Murphy discussed his dominance, comparing him to tennis world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and golf's Scottie Scheffler, concluding Littler is unmatched. Turner also highlighted the parallel dominance of women's darts star Beau Greaves, who won the Women's World Matchplay and has a 114-match winning streak. However, both pundits agreed Littler has not yet surpassed Phil Taylor as darts' greatest ever player, though he has the potential to do so.
Clean sweep? What the rest of 2026 looks like for Littler
Luke Littler, world No. 1 in darts, has won the World Matchplay title in Blackpool with a record-breaking 18-9 victory over Gerwyn Price, achieving an average of 111.53 in the final. This victory makes him only the fourth player to win back-to-back Matchplay titles and the first in a decade. The win was crucial for Littler's 2026 plans, as he had stated that the tournament's outcome would determine whether he would compete in the Players Championship Finals. Having now won the World Darts Championship, UK Open, Premier League, Masters, and World Matchplay in 2026, Littler is targeting a clean sweep of all major titles in a single calendar year. Instead of a planned holiday to Spain, he will now head to Leicester for the Players Championship Finals.
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Luke Littler aims to be 'greatest darts player ever' after dominant World Matchplay title defence
Luke Littler, the 19-year-old world No. 1, successfully defended his Betfred World Matchplay title in Blackpool, becoming the first player since Michael van Gerwen to do so. He has now won every PDC major title in 2026, including the World Championship, UK Open, Winmau World Masters, Premier League, and World Cup of Darts. Littler smashed the tournament average record with 111.04, surpassing Phil Taylor's 2010 mark of 106.31, and broke his own record for most 180s. In an interview with Sky Sports, Littler reiterated his ambition to become the 'greatest darts player ever,' acknowledging he needs to match Taylor's 16 world titles and other achievements. The article notes that while Littler's scoring rivals Taylor's prime, he would need to win every World Matchplay until 2040 to equal Taylor's title tally, highlighting the longevity required for such comparisons.
Luke Littler dominates World Matchplay, sets record average in back-to-back title win
Luke Littler won his second consecutive World Matchplay title in Blackpool, defeating Gerwyn Price 18-9 with a record tournament average of 111.53. He also broke his own record for most 180s in a tournament (66). Sky Sports Darts analyst Mark Webster called it the 'best major campaign we have ever seen,' noting Littler's dominance and questioning what weaknesses opponents can exploit. Littler has already won the World Darts Championship, UK Open, Premier League, and Masters in 2026, and is pursuing a clean sweep of all major titles this year. Webster believes Littler's performance sets a new standard and that the rest of the field faces an increasingly difficult challenge.
Luke Littler Shatters Records to Win World Matchplay Darts Title
Luke Littler, the 19-year-old darts sensation, delivered a historic performance to win the World Matchplay final in Blackpool, defeating former world champion Gerwyn Price 18-9. Littler achieved an average of 111.53 points per throw in the final, a record for a major tournament final, and finished the entire tournament with an overall average of 111.38, surpassing Phil Taylor's previous best of 106.31. He also broke his own tournament record for 180s, hitting 66 in total. This victory marked his 29th consecutive win in matches of at least 20 legs. Earlier, Littler defeated Dirk van Duijvenbode 17-5 in the semi-final and maintained averages above 109 in all five matches. By reaching the final, he became the first player in PDC history to surpass £3 million in prize money on the Order of Merit. Littler described the week as 'perfect' and the 'best version' of himself.
Luke Littler Breaks Four Records in World Matchplay Final, Dominates Gerwyn Price
Luke Littler, 19, defended his World Matchplay title in Blackpool with an 18-9 victory over Gerwyn Price, breaking four records in the process. He became the first player to earn over £3 million in ranking tournaments within two years, surpassing Phil Taylor's 2013 final average (111.53 vs 111.23) and Taylor's tournament average record (111.5 vs 106.5). Littler also set a new tournament record for 180s with 66, surpassing his own 2025 record of 64. The teenager's dominance was described by Germany's Gabriel Clemens as 'never seen such dominance.' Price defended Littler against booing fans, calling him 'so good and so important for our sport.' The women's final provided the only real excitement of the event.
Luke Littler Shatters Records with Dominant World Matchplay Victory
Luke Littler, the 19-year-old darts sensation, delivered a historic performance at the World Matchplay final in Blackpool, defeating former world champion Gerwyn Price 18-9. Littler set a new record for the highest average in a major tournament final (111.53), surpassing Phil Taylor's previous best. He also broke his own tournament record for 180s (66) and achieved his 29th consecutive victory in matches with at least 20 legs. Throughout the tournament, Littler averaged over 109 points in all five matches, including a stunning 113.68 against Nathan Aspinall. By reaching the final, he became the first player in PDC history to surpass £3 million in prize money on the Order of Merit. Littler described the week as 'perfect' and 'the best version of me.'
Luke Littler Retains World Matchplay Title with Six 100+ Finishes
Luke Littler delivered a stunning performance in the World Matchplay final in Blackpool, hitting six brilliant 100+ checkouts to reclaim the title. He defeated Gerwyn Price 18-9 in a dominant display. The match, held on July 26, 2026, showcased Littler's exceptional finishing ability, with the six high-scoring checkouts being a highlight of the event. The victory marks Littler's successful defense of the prestigious darts title at the Winter Gardens.
Luke Littler Shatters Records in World Matchplay Final Victory
Luke Littler, the 19-year-old darts sensation, delivered a historic performance in the World Matchplay final in Blackpool, defeating former world champion Gerwyn Price 18-9. Littler achieved an average of 111.53 points in the final, a record for a major tournament final, and ended the tournament with an overall average of 111.38, surpassing Phil Taylor's previous best of 106.31. He also broke his own tournament record for 180s with 66, secured his 29th consecutive victory in long-distance matches, and became the first player in PDC history to surpass 3 million pounds in prize money on the Order of Merit. Littler described the week as 'perfect' and 'the best version of me.'
Luke Littler's Record-Breaking World Matchplay Victory
Luke Littler, the 19-year-old darts sensation, delivered a historic performance at the World Matchplay final in Blackpool, defeating former world champion Gerwyn Price 18-9. Littler achieved an average of 111.53 points, with six high finishes over 100 points. His tournament average of 111.38 shattered Phil Taylor's previous record of 106.31. Littler also broke his own record for 180s (66) and extended his winning streak in long-distance matches to 29. In the semi-final, he beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 17-5. Littler became the first player in PDC history to surpass £3 million in prize money on the Order of Merit. His performance drew amazement from Price and fans at the Winter Gardens.
Luke Littler Defeats Gerwyn Price 18-9 to Defend World Matchplay Darts Title
Luke Littler successfully defended his World Matchplay Darts title in Blackpool with an emphatic 18-9 victory over Gerwyn Price. The 19-year-old averaged 111.53 and hit 12 maximum 180s, posting six ton-plus finishes in a dominant display. Littler raced to an 11-3 lead before Price mounted a partial fightback, but the defending champion closed out the match to become only the fourth player in history to win back-to-back World Matchplay titles. Littler averaged 109 or better in all five matches during the tournament, breaking the tournament scoring record previously set by Phil Taylor in 2010. He also broke his own record for most 180s in the event and extended his lead at the top of the PDC rankings, collecting the £200,000 first prize. The victory continues Littler's run of winning every PDC TV major in 2026.
Luke Littler Hails World Matchplay Defence as 'One of Best Weeks of My Life' After Historic Victory
Luke Littler, the 19-year-old world number one, successfully defended his World Matchplay title in Blackpool, defeating Gerwyn Price 18-9 in a record-breaking performance. Littler achieved an 111.53 average, breaking Phil Taylor's tournament scoring record from 2010, and set a new tournament record with 66 180s. He also became the first player in a decade to retain the title at the Winter Gardens. Littler described the week as 'one of the best weeks of my life,' noting he played 'some of the best darts of my life.' The victory continues his run of winning every PDC TV major in 2026 and pushed his career earnings past £3 million. Littler indicated he will now compete in Pro Tour events in Leicester instead of a planned trip to Spain to pursue a clean sweep of ranked majors.
Darts Superstar Luke Littler on Verge of Next Triumph, Breaks Incredible Sound Barrier
Luke Littler, the 19-year-old darts sensation, is on the cusp of another major victory after a dominant 17-5 semifinal win over Dirk van Duijvenbode at the World Matchplay in Blackpool. Littler will face Welshman Gerwyn Price in the final, aiming not only for the title but also to break Phil Taylor's tournament average record of 106.31, as Littler currently holds a tournament average of 110.88. In his previous matches, he averaged over 109 points, including a stunning 113.68 against Nathan Aspinall. Littler has already made history by becoming the first player to surpass £3 million in PDC Order of Merit prize money. He enters the final with an incredible streak of 28 undefeated matches in games with at least 20 legs, and has won his last nine consecutive matches against Price. The final is scheduled for 9 p.m. on DAZN.
Luke Littler Breaks Darts Sound Barrier, Targets World Matchplay Title and Record
Luke Littler, the 19-year-old darts sensation, is on the verge of another major triumph after defeating Dirk van Duijvenbode 17-5 in the World Matchplay semifinals. He will face Gerwyn Price in the final on July 26, 2026, aiming to win the prestigious PDC tournament and break Phil Taylor's tournament average record of 106.31. Littler has averaged over 109 points in all four matches in Blackpool, including a stunning 113.68 against Nathan Aspinall. He has already made history by becoming the first player to surpass £3 million in prize money on the PDC Order of Merit. Littler enters the final with a tournament average of 110.88 and has an undefeated streak of 28 matches in games with at least 20 legs, last losing in the 2024 World Championship final. He has also won his last nine consecutive matches against Price.
Luke Littler Dominates World Matchplay Semi-Finals with Record-Breaking Performance
Luke Littler delivered an extraordinary performance at the 2026 World Matchplay darts tournament in Blackpool, defeating Dirk van Duijvenbode 17-5 in the semi-finals. The 19-year-old English prodigy has set new standards of dominance, averaging over 109 points in all four matches, including a nine-darter and a 113.68 average against Nathan Aspinall. Littler has now won 28 consecutive matches lasting at least 20 legs, a streak dating back to the 2024 World Championship final. He will face Gerwyn Price in the final, having won their last nine encounters. The article notes that only Phil Taylor's 2010 performance (114.99 average) surpasses Littler's current form. The final, a best-of-35 match, is scheduled for 9:00 PM German time on DAZN.
Price to Littler: Don't underestimate me! | 'If I play my A game, I will win!'
Gerwyn Price is embracing the underdog role ahead of the Betfred World Matchplay final against defending champion Luke Littler in Blackpool. Price, who has lost his last nine matches against Littler, insists he can win if he plays his A-game. Littler reached the final by demolishing Dirk van Duijvenbode 17-5 with a 110.88 average and 16 maximums. The world No. 1 is favored to become the first back-to-back winner since Michael van Gerwen. Price, through to his first major TV final since 2023, believes he has more in the tank after his semi-final win over Gian van Veen. He warns Littler not to underestimate him, stating his confidence in winning the title.
Luke Littler Dominates van Duijvenbode to Reach World Matchplay Final Against Gerwyn Price
Luke Littler delivered a dominant performance in the World Matchplay Darts semi-finals, defeating Dirk van Duijvenbode 17-5 at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Littler posted a stunning 110.88 average, hit 16 180s, and converted 50% of his doubles. The victory sets up a final against Gerwyn Price, who defeated Gian van Veen in the other semi-final. Littler, already the world number two, has now surpassed £3 million in career prize money and is aiming to become the first player in a decade to win back-to-back Matchplay titles, a feat last achieved by Michael van Gerwen in 2016. Price, known as the 'Iceman', returns to the Blackpool final for the first time since 2022, seeking his first Phil Taylor trophy. The final is scheduled for Sunday evening in a best-of-35-leg contest.
Luke Littler: I Can Dominate Darts Like Phil Taylor If Form Continues
Luke Littler, the world No. 1 darts player and defending World Matchplay champion, stated he can dominate the sport like legendary Phil Taylor if he maintains his current form. Following a dominant 16-7 quarter-final win over Josh Rock, where he averaged 109.57 with a 53% doubles success rate and hit 17 180s, Littler expressed confidence in his ability to sustain dominance. He is set to face Dirk van Duijvenbode in the semi-final, live on Sky Sports. Littler aims to become the first player since Michael van Gerwen in 2016 to win back-to-back Matchplay titles. He also noted that a win would push his order of merit earnings toward the £3 million mark. Littler currently holds the World Darts Championship, UK Open, Premier League, and Masters titles, and is defending several other major trophies.
Luke Littler's Dominant World Matchplay Run Continues with Nine-Darter and Record Averages
Luke Littler has continued his extraordinary form at the 2026 World Matchplay in Blackpool, hitting a nine-darter and posting tournament averages of 113 and 109. The reigning champion defeated Nathan Aspinall and Josh Rock in dominant fashion, extending his winning streak in matches over 20 legs to 27. Littler, the world No. 1, is defending multiple titles including the Matchplay, Grand Slam, and Grand Prix. Sky Sports analyst Mark Webster called his form 'frightening' and warned upcoming opponent Dirk van Duijvenbode: 'Good luck.' Littler aims to become the first back-to-back Matchplay champion since Michael van Gerwen in 2016.