Under the bright lights of Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Luke Littler etched his name into darting history. The teenage phenomenon arrived at the Betfred World Matchplay with expectation heavy on his shoulders — and left with the Phil Taylor Trophy in his grasp and the Triple Crown to his name. Across the week he produced a masterclass in resilience and brilliance. In his opening match he dismantled Ryan Searle with a staggering 109 average. In the quarter-finals he went the distance in a 30-leg battle with Andrew Gilding, holding his nerve to advance. The semi-final brought his finest moment yet — a perfect nine-darter against Josh Rock, igniting the Winter Gardens crowd.
Three times he trailed by five legs, three times he fought back. In the final he faced the experienced James Wade and once again found another gear, surging to an 18–13 victory with a 107.24 average and a record-breaking 64 maximums across the tournament — shattering Adrian Lewis’ mark. At just 18, Littler became the youngest player ever to win in Blackpool and the youngest to complete darts’ Triple Crown, joining the legendary company of Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Luke Humphries. It was a performance for the ages — a coming-of-age story played out on the grandest stage, in the town that has witnessed the sport’s most iconic moments.
Winter Gardens, Blackpool, UK. 26th July, 2025. 2025 Betfred World Matchplay Darts Day 8; Luke Littler in action on the oche in his semi-final match against Josh Rock Credit: Action Plus Sports/Alamy Live News
Winter Gardens, Blackpool, UK. 27th July, 2025. 2025 Betfred World Matchplay Darts Day 9; Luke Littler celebrates winning the Betfred World Matchplay final against James Wade with the trophy Credit: Action Plus Sports/Alamy Live News
