Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler claimed his first World Grand Prix title with a commanding 6–1 victory over world champion Luke Humphries in Leicester, moving within touching distance of the world number one ranking.
The 18-year-old, who was knocked out in the first round of the ‘double-in, double-out’ event on his debut last year, delivered a composed and ruthless performance throughout the tournament. Despite recording a lower average than Humphries in the final, Littler’s clinical finishing saw him win five of his six sets in final-leg deciders, securing the £120,000 prize.
The victory marks Littler’s seventh televised PDC major title, placing him joint-seventh on the all-time list — an extraordinary feat for a teenager.
At the post-match news conference, Littler expressed his growing confidence and hunger for more success.
“This is my time and I’ve just got to keep going,” he said. “Until I get that world number one spot, I will never call myself the best in the world.”
The young star now trails Humphries by just over £70,000 in the PDC world rankings, as the two continue their battle for the top spot ahead of December’s World Championship.
“Knowing I’m only £70,000 behind Luke, and he’s got to defend all of his prize money from the Grand Prix, the Players Championships, and the World Championship — I don’t want to think about it too much, but I could be world number one before then,” Littler added.
In response, Humphries acknowledged the rising pressure, telling Sky Sports:
“I have to just get better and practise harder. If I don’t, he will just run away with everything. I have to dedicate everything to being a dart player and work even harder than I ever have.”
With his latest triumph, Littler’s rise from teenage prodigy to genuine world-beater shows no signs of slowing — and the countdown to a potential world number one coronation has officially begun.
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