Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts sensation and reigning PDC World Champion, displayed a mix of surprise and disappointment when informed that his remarkable 222-match streak of hitting at least one 180 in every professional game ended during his first-round match at the 2025 New Zealand Darts Masters on August 15, 2025. The teenage star, competing in Auckland, defeated local player Mark Cleaver 6-4 to advance to the second round but failed to register a maximum, a rare occurrence that halted one of the most impressive streaks in darts history.
Post-match, Littler was caught off guard when told of the streak’s end. Speaking to TungstenTales, he exclaimed, “Did I not hit a 180? I didn’t even know. It didn’t happen!” His reaction, described as “telling” by SportBible, reflected both shock and a pragmatic acceptance of the moment (). Littler admitted to struggling with his scoring, noting, “Through the game I said to myself, if I go three across I’ll change to my world champion darts. But I think it went to 4-3 and I was going to change anyway” (). He ultimately switched from his Black Pixel darts, which had powered his World Matchplay win, to secure the victory, highlighting his adaptability under pressure.[](https://www.sportbible.com/darts/luke-littler-new-zealand-darts-masters-reaction-820212-20250815)[](https://dartsnews.com/pdc/didnt-even-know-it-didnt-happen-luke-littler-jokes-amid-lack-of-180-in-rare-feat-during-new-zealand-darts-masters)
The match saw Littler take an early 3-0 lead, only for Cleaver to fight back to 4-3, making it a tense contest. Despite the loss of his streak, Littler’s focus remained on progressing, stating, “I’m just glad to get it over and done with, switch on for tomorrow” (). His performance, with a 95.6 average compared to Cleaver’s 87.73, underscored his dominance, even without a 180 (). The streak’s end, first reported by MailSport, drew significant attention, with fans on X noting Littler’s resilience despite the setback ().[]
Littler’s reaction mirrors the challenges faced by other athletes under scrutiny, like Emma Raducanu, who withdrew from the US Open due to injuries, or Carlos Alcaraz, navigating sponsorship disputes. His ability to refocus after the streak’s end aligns with his strategic approach, seen in his decision to skip the 2025 PDC World Youth Championship to manage his schedule. Littler’s next challenge was a second-round clash with Mike De Decker, a rematch of his Australian Darts Masters final win. Despite the disappointment, Littler’s comments, “I need to hit one tomorrow,” reflect his determination to rebound at the US Open Darts Masters, where he remains a favorite.
