Littler becomes the youngest ever winner of the Grand Slam of Darts – As he claims the title ahead of Lukeman.

Once more the history books continue to be rewritten by the teenage sensation.

In what many have called the match of the competition, the Nuke defeated Gary Anderson in the semifinals of the Grand Slam of Darts before facing Lukeman in the final showdown. It only took 19 legs overall for Luke Littler to win again after a nerve-wracking last-leg shootout in the previous round.

As the Warrington Wonderkid wins his first-ever TV ranking tournament, the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts title is the latest addition to his trophy case.

Littler won without real threat, as he allowed his opponent Lukeman to maintain the lead just once. This came in an early 2-0 lead.

Littler would then go on to win 15 straight legs, placing him just one win away from becoming the new Grand Slam Champion. Littler pinned the match’s highest checkout and his second 124 of the day to tie the score at 2-2.

In contrast to the 17-year-old, who would have been given 35 tries, the defenceless Martin Lukeman only managed six doubles attempts during the competition, three of which he took.

To wrap up victory, the Nuke pinned 24 once more, but this pinned D6 opposed to the D12 it required against Ando.

Once more, Littler’s scoring power proved too strong. He would finish the match with a total of 12 180s after pinning at least one in each of the first five legs. and achieved an unimaginable average of 107.08.

 

Lukeman the to first to book his place in the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts final

In his match against Smash, the Northern Irishman would only take the lead once, as Mansell rushed into an early three-nil advantage. Lukeman’s answer was more than sufficient, as he recorded the next five legs to overtake the experienced Mansell and take the lead.

The Clonoe Cyclone would cut the gap to just one leg, thus the two would trade them for the next five legs. Both would then take two breaks, but Martin Lukeman would maintain a narrow 8–7 lead. Lukeman’s substantial four-leg advantage by leg 20 proved crucial as Mansell found it difficult to close the gap as he had in the past.

 

Lukeman would win with a conventional 25 checkout (9, D8) after narrowly missing the Bullseye to finish the fight in style with a 130.

Smash’s scoring prowess proved decisive as he pinned four more maximums than Mansell, who still managed a respectable eight overall, despite the fact that both missed ampul opportunities at double (a total combined of 45). Given that Mickey Mansell averaged 92.28 and Martin Lukeman averaged 99.66, the scoring was ultimately most noticeable from both averages.

 

Littler marginally wins an all-time classic against Ando at the Grand Slam of Darts

The match between Gary Anderson and Luke Littler was undoubtedly the tournament’s best. The game featured a final leg decider, an enormous 21 180s between the two, 100+ averages, and 100+ checkouts from both players.

The two-time runner-up was up by three legs to two going into the first interval. Ando pinned his maiden ton plus (124) checkout in leg eight to tie the match again after he missed a D18 for 147 in leg seven. The Bahrain Masters Champion then took the lead again after a spectacular 11-dart leg in leg nine.

Soon after, the Nuke opened a two-leg cushion once more and took his turn hitting a 124 checkout. Littler was hit hard in the next seven legs as the Scotsman pinned all seven. In the process Ando pulled off two incredible checkouts, the first being a 164 and the second being a 142.

In leg 19, Littler would pin his reliable D10, bringing the rot to a stop. After exchanging the next five legs, he got a vital break of throw with another 11-dart leg, reducing his lead of the Flying Scotsman to just two.

 

 

In the next leg, he would close the gap to one, but Ando would still lead 13–12.

Ando was sat on a bogey 165 in leg 27, and followed with three unconventional bullseyes, but despite this puzzling pressure, Littler still struck D10.

With the odds in favour of the once World Champion, who just needed to hold his throw for two more legs, Littler needed yet another break off throw to stand a chance. Which he pinned in the penultimate leg,

Littler struck D12 on his second try to win and guarantee his spot in the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts final after Anderson was unable to pin 155.

2024 Grand Slam of Dart – Semi Final Results

Mickey Mansell 12-16 Martin Lukeman

Luke Littler 16-15 Gary Anderson

 

2024 Grand Slam of Dart – Final Result

Luke Littler 16-3 Martin Lukeman