Luke Littler’s meteoric rise in 2025 has been nothing short of historic. In January, he fulfilled what many saw as his destiny by defeating Michael van Gerwen 7–3 in the World Championship final, becoming the youngest world champion in darts history. Just two months later, he claimed the UK Open title with a victory over James Wade in Minehead — a triumph bookended by his success at the Belgian Darts Open.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Littler’s Premier League title defence fell short, with Luke Humphries emerging victorious, and his World Cup of Darts partnership with Humphries failed to click. Still, any doubts were quickly silenced.
World Matchplay Glory and the Triple Crown
In July, Littler returned to form in emphatic fashion at the World Matchplay in Blackpool. He produced a commanding 18–13 win over Wade in the final at the iconic Winter Gardens, becoming only the fifth player in history — alongside Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, and Humphries — to complete the modern darts ‘Triple Crown’: World Championship, Premier League, and Matchplay titles.
Dominating the World Series Stage
Littler’s dominance extended into the summer with back-to-back World Series wins in Oceania. He lifted both the Australian Darts Masters and the New Zealand Darts Masters, capping the latter with a remarkable 115.02 average against Humphries in the final — one of the highest ever recorded in a televised decider.
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This level of scoring isn’t occasional brilliance — it’s a consistent weapon. Littler doesn’t rely on scrappy legs or grinding out results. His game is built on relentless, high-powered scoring that overwhelms opponents leg after leg.
558 Maximums and Counting
The stats back it all up. As of August, Littler has fired in 558 180s in 2025 — a figure that dwarfs the rest of the field. But it’s not just the quantity that’s alarming — it’s the timing. He frequently produces 180s mid-leg to turn routine holds into easy finishes or strings them together to demolish an opponent’s throw.
What truly sets Littler apart is his ability to bring his natural, attacking game to the sport’s biggest stages — a trait reserved for the sport’s elite. That consistency under pressure is what keeps him in finals — and more importantly — winning them.
The New Benchmark
Phil Taylor once redefined darts with his ruthless consistency. A decade later, Van Gerwen raised the bar again with his scoring power. Now, at just 18, Littler is doing the same — perhaps with even greater potential ahead.
His 558 maximums before the end of August aren’t just numbers; they’re evidence of a shift. A new era is unfolding in darts, and Luke Littler is at its forefront.
