Luke Littler WINS UK Open and breaks ten-year darts curse to join exclusive club with three legends

Luke Littler claimed his fifth consecutive major title after successfully defending the UK Open Darts Championship with an 11–7 victory over James Wade in Minehead on Sunday night.

The world No.1 repeated last year’s final result and walked away with the £120,000 winner’s prize after battling through a tough day that also saw him overcome Danny Noppert in the quarter-finals and Josh Rock in the semi-finals.

At just 19, Littler has now gone unbeaten in a televised major since October 25 last year, when Wade knocked him out of the European Championship Darts.

His triumph also places him among an elite group of players to successfully defend the UK Open title, joining legends Raymond van Barneveld, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.

The victory marked Littler’s 11th major title, putting him one ahead of Wade and trailing only Taylor (79) and Van Gerwen (48) on the PDC’s all-time list of major winners.

His continued dominance has also pushed him close to £3 million in career prize money on the world rankings.

Speaking after the win, Littler said:
“It feels amazing. I don’t think it’s been the best tournament for me average-wise.

“But I’ve dug deep throughout the event and come out with the win. That’s what James does — he’s always right behind you.

“After the match I told him if he’d hit those double tops, it would’ve been a completely different game.

“I wasn’t happy with myself in the early rounds, but we’ve come out as champion.”

Wade, who collected £60,000 as runner-up, praised his opponent afterward.

“He was just too good for me in the end,” Wade said.
“I’m a little bit gassed out and a little older than he is. I just couldn’t quite find it tonight. Hats off to him.

“He’s doing what he does and makes it look quite easy. I missed a couple of shots and doubles. Nobody likes losing.

“For the last 18 months I’ve been playing alright, even if it doesn’t always get noticed. But Luke’s flying the flag for the PDC — he’s the best player in the world right now.

“Unfortunately I’ve lost to him in three finals, and I hate losing more than anyone.”

The generational contrast was clear in the final — Littler was just one year old when Wade won the first of his three UK Open titles in 2008.

Despite looking below his best earlier in the day against Noppert and Rock, Littler started the final strongly, racing into a 3–0 lead.

Wade, nicknamed “The Machine,” had been outstanding in his semi-final victory over Gerwyn Price, but he couldn’t reproduce that form against the teenage sensation.

The decisive moment came with the match tied at 7–7.

Littler produced a brilliant 116 checkout to spark a run of four consecutive legs, before sealing the title by landing double six to confirm another historic triumph.