Luke Littler produces greatest World Matchplay campaign in history to retain Winter Gardens crown
Luke Littler produces greatest World Matchplay campaign in history to retain Winter Gardens crown
Luke Littler completed the greatest Betfred World Matchplay campaign in history by defeating Gerwyn Price 18-9 to retain the Phil Taylor Trophy at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on Sunday.
The reigning champion shattered a host of records during a breathtaking nine-day spell on the Lancashire coast, producing another extraordinary performance in the final to underline his status as the dominant force in world darts.
Littler eclipsed Phil Taylor’s long-standing tournament average record of 106.31, set in 2010, by averaging a staggering 111.04 across his five matches in Blackpool.
The 19-year-old also registered the highest average ever recorded in a World Matchplay final, producing a sensational 111.51 against Price to become just the fourth player to successfully defend the title.
“It’s been a crazy week. It’s been one of the best weeks of my life,” declared Littler, who also smashed his own tournament record by landing 66 maximums across the event.
“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.”
The victory keeps Littler on course for an unprecedented clean sweep of every Premier televised title in 2026, having already lifted the World Championship, World Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup of Darts and now successfully defended the World Matchplay crown.
Having skipped every Players Championship event so far this season, the World Champion admitted his immediate focus now turns to qualifying for the Players Championship Finals later this year.
“I’ve just been playing so well,” added Littler, who defeated Niko Springer, Nathan Aspinall, Josh Rock and Dirk van Duijvenbode before overcoming Price in the final.
“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’s dominance throughout the tournament was relentless. He produced a spectacular nine-darter against Aspinall before posting individual averages of 109, 113, 109 and 110 on his route to Sunday’s showpiece.
Luke Littler produces greatest World Matchplay campaign in history to retain Winter Gardens crown
Price actually averaged 109 during the opening session of the final, yet still found himself trailing 4-1 as Littler paired a magnificent 167 checkout with a clinical 110 finish to seize early control.
The world number one continued to pull away, extending his advantage to 7-3 with consecutive 11-darters and a brilliant tops-tops 100 checkout that pushed his average beyond 114.
Another devastating four-leg burst followed, with legs of 12, 12, 11 and 12 darts featuring finishes of 128, 127, 87 and 84 as Littler stormed into an 11-3 lead.
To his credit, Price fought back strongly by winning six of the next ten legs to cut the deficit to 15-9, but Littler immediately extinguished any hopes of a comeback with a superb 148 checkout – his sixth ton-plus finish of the contest.
The Warrington star then fired in a 13-darter to move within one leg of victory before sealing a historic triumph with a composed 81 finish on the bull.
Price, appearing in his first televised ranking final since October 2023, averaged 104.92 in defeat – the second-highest losing average ever recorded in a World Matchplay final.
The Welshman reached the final with victories over Martin Schindler, Rob Cross, Ross Smith and Gian van Veen, and was quick to praise his opponent after the match.
“Luke is one in a million,” said Price, who returns to the position of Welsh number one after collecting £125,000 for finishing runner-up.
“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.”
