Luke Littler continued his sensational rise in the world of darts with a dramatic 8–7 victory over Josh Rock in the final of the Flanders Darts Trophy on Sunday. The 18-year-old English star captured his fourth European Tour title — and fifth ranking title of 2025 — further cementing his status as one of the sport’s brightest young talents.
Antwerp Proves a Happy Hunting Ground Again
The Antwerp Xpo once again proved a lucky venue for Littler, who earlier this year claimed another Euro Tour title on Belgian soil. With the crowd firmly behind him, the reigning world champion put on a series of dominant performances throughout the tournament, culminating in a final that showcased his resilience and composure under pressure.
Rock, who recently won the World Cup of Darts alongside Daryl Gurney, started the final in commanding fashion, racing to a 4–1 lead. But Littler responded in style, winning five of the next six legs to turn the match on its head.
Just when it seemed Littler was heading for a routine finish, Rock produced a stunning 161 checkout on the bullseye, leveling the match at 7–7 and sending the crowd into a frenzy. But Littler kept his nerve, closing out the match with a superb 11-darter in the deciding leg.
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Post-Match Reaction: Littler Reflects on a Nerve-Wracking Finish
Speaking after the match, Littler admitted the 161 checkout had briefly shaken him, but he never doubted his ability to finish the job. “I think I started off okay, I wasn’t the quickest away, but my cover shooting and my doubles all went well,” he said.
“When Josh hit the 161 checkout, it wasn’t a good feeling, but I knew all I had to do was break the throw and win the game. Ever since I started playing darts I’ve always loved a last-leg decider. I back myself with or without the darts — but I knew I had to go out in eleven there.”
Dominating the Euro Tour at Just 18
Despite only joining the European Tour circuit in early 2024, Littler has already captured four titles in just 11 appearances — an extraordinary feat. Remarkably, three of those wins have come in Belgium, where Littler has quickly become a fan favourite.
“The European Tour stage — I love it,” Littler said. “I love coming here [to Belgium], and I’ve said for the past year now that we need a Premier League event here. They love me here, I love them. They wanted Josh to win for a bit in that game, but once I came back from 4–1 down, I knew they’d get back on my side.”
Looking Ahead: A Busy Autumn Awaits
With his victory in Antwerp, Littler wraps up the summer on a high note and prepares for a hectic stretch of tournaments in the coming months.
“This is it now. From now, it’s back-to-back tournaments,” he said. “September and October are some of the craziest months of the calendar. I know how to deal with that and know what’s coming up.”
Still only 18, Luke Littler is not only collecting titles at an astonishing rate but also winning the hearts of fans across Europe — particularly in Belgium. With his confidence sky-high and a packed autumn schedule ahead, darts’ newest superstar shows no signs of slowing down.
