Luke Littler Lifts Australian Darts Masters Trophy in Wollongong
Luke Littler Lifts Australian Darts Masters Trophy in Wollongong
Luke Littler continued his remarkable rise in the darts world by securing his third World Series of Darts crown, defeating Belgium’s Mike De Decker 8-4 in the KenoGO Australian Darts Masters final on Saturday.
Arriving in Wollongong just two weeks after claiming the World Matchplay trophy, Littler once again demonstrated why he is one of the sport’s most exciting talents. The reigning World Champion not only maintained his winning momentum but also claimed his first World Series title of 2025.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Warrington star. In his opening match on Friday night, Littler was pushed to the limit by New Zealand’s top-ranked player Haupai Puha. The teenager narrowly escaped with a 6-5 win in a tense last-leg decider, keeping his campaign alive.
On Finals Day at the WIN Entertainment Centre, however, Littler quickly found his rhythm. He began with a confident 6-3 win over Australian number one Damon Heta, finishing strongly with three consecutive legs and averaging 102. In the semi-finals, he faced Stephen Bunting, where a crucial 121 checkout in the penultimate leg helped secure a 7-4 victory and book his place in the final.
The championship match against De Decker began tightly, with the Belgian holding his own to level at 2-2. But Littler soon shifted into a higher gear. A brilliant 143 finish followed by an 11-dart leg gave him a 4-2 advantage. De Decker closed the gap to 6-4, but Littler’s relentless scoring proved too much. A 12-dart hold of throw moved him within one leg of victory, and he sealed the title with a clinical 14-dart break.
“It feels great,” Littler said after lifting the trophy. “I didn’t perform at my best last night, but tonight I played well when it mattered most. My World Series season hadn’t gone to plan so far, but there are plenty of opportunities, and I’m happy to have finally got my hands on this title. I’m looking forward to Auckland now – a few days off, then on to New Zealand!”
For De Decker, the runner-up finish capped a strong debut on the World Series stage. He began his Finals Day by shocking world number one Luke Humphries with a 6-0 whitewash, averaging over 103 and nailing a spectacular 167 checkout. In the semi-finals, he rallied from 4-3 down against Chris Dobey, winning four legs on the spin to reach his first World Series final.
“I’m pleased to reach the final and show I can still produce my A-game,” De Decker reflected. “This year has had its ups and downs, so this result is a real confidence boost.”
Dobey also enjoyed a breakthrough weekend, advancing to his first World Series semi-final after defeating defending champion Gerwyn Price in a high-quality quarter-final. Meanwhile, Stephen Bunting impressed with a 6-0 win over Northern Ireland’s World Cup champion Josh Rock in the last eight, before falling to Littler despite averaging 102.
The Australian Darts Masters marked the first part of the PDC’s Oceanic double-header. The action now heads to Auckland’s Spark Arena for the SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters on August 15-16, where Littler, De Decker, and the rest of the field will battle for another prestigious title.
With Littler in imperious form and the competition heating up, the stage is set for another thrilling weekend of top-class darts in New Zealand.
Luke Littler Lifts Australian Darts Masters Trophy in Wollongong
2025 KenoGO Australian Darts Masters
Saturday August 9
Quarter-Finals
Stephen Bunting 6-0 Josh Rock
Luke Littler 6-3 Damon Heta
Chris Dobey 6-4 Gerwyn Price
Mike De Decker 6-0 Luke Humphries
Semi-Finals
Luke Littler 7-4 Stephen Bunting
Mike De Decker 7-4 Chris Dobey
Final
Luke Littler 8-4 Mike De Decker
