Luke Littler Inspired by Manchester United’s FA Cup Exit to Clinch UK Open Title
Luke Littler has revealed that Manchester United’s FA Cup defeat to Fulham provided the extra motivation he needed to secure victory over Jonny Clayton in the UK Open semi-finals.
A lifelong United fan, Littler has experienced a mixed run of form since winning the World Championship at the start of the year. However, the UK Open—often dubbed the ‘FA Cup of Darts’—offered him the perfect opportunity to get back on track.
The semi-finals took place during United’s FA Cup fifth-round clash with Fulham at Old Trafford. Calvin Bassey gave the visitors the lead just before halftime, only for Bruno Fernandes to fire home an equalizer after the break. The match ultimately went to penalties, where Bernd Leno denied Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee to send United crashing out.
Littler, competing in his own high-stakes battle at the same time, admitted that news of United’s loss pushed him to raise his game.
“I Heard United Lost—It Spurred Me On”
“Obviously, I’m happy to reach the final of the UK Open at my third attempt,” Littler told ITV Sport. “But during the second break, I heard about Manchester United’s loss, and that gave me a bit of a boost—I won the next five legs.
“At the first break, I saw the match had gone to penalties, but I didn’t think much of it. Then, by the second break, I heard the final result, and in the third session, I just went on a roll.
“Having that five-leg gap and then going off stage knowing I only needed one more—I managed to get it done. I know my doubles aren’t my strongest suit, but I’m always working to improve. My scoring power is there, and that gives me chances, even if I miss a few on the doubles.”
Littler Destroys Wade to Capture Maiden UK Open Title
After defeating Clayton 11-6, Littler advanced to the final, where he faced three-time UK Open champion James Wade. He produced a dominant performance, crushing Wade 11-2 to claim his first UK Open title.
The triumph marks Littler’s fifth televised major since his stunning breakout at Ally Pally in December 2023. In his debut year on the biggest stage, he has already secured titles at the World Championship, Premier League, Grand Slam, and World Series Finals.
His victories over Clayton and Wade followed an impressive run through the tournament, which included wins against Gian van Veen, Krzysztof Ratajski, Jermaine Wattimena, and Peter Wright.
Littler’s latest triumph brings him one step closer to achieving his ultimate goal: winning every major title in the sport.
