Luke Littler Stuns Gerwyn Price with Sensational 154 Checkout in World Grand Prix Quarterfinal Thriller
Luke Littler delivered a moment of pure darts magic on October 10, 2025, nailing a jaw-dropping **154 checkout** to clinch a crucial leg against Gerwyn Price in their blockbuster World Grand Prix quarterfinal at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena. The 18-year-old world No. 2, locked in a fierce battle with the Welsh No. 7 seed, executed the high-pressure finish—treble 20, treble 18, double 20—with ice-cold precision, sending the 3,000-strong crowd into a frenzy and silencing Price’s pre-match mind games. The checkout, one of the tournament’s standout moments, propelled Littler toward a 3-2 sets victory (3-1, 2-3, 3-2, 1-3, 3-1), securing his place in the semifinals of the £600,000 double-in/double-out event and a shot at the £120,000 title.
The Match: A Five-Set Epic Defined by Littler’s 154
The quarterfinal, broadcast live on Sky Sports, lived up to its billing as a generational clash. Price, who vowed to “put Littler under pressure” and boasted he was “not scared of anybody,” started strong, taking the second set 3-2 after Littler’s blistering 3-1 opener (averaging 105.12 with a 121 checkout). The match seesawed, with Price leveling at 2-2 in sets via a 3-1 fourth set, powered by a 140-finish and four 180s. But Littler’s defining moment came in the decider, Set 5, leg two, trailing 1-0 in legs: Facing 154 with Price waiting on 40, Littler nailed T20, T18, D20 in one visit, sparking pandemonium and shifting momentum.
“That 154 was pure class—I felt the crowd lift me,” Littler told Sky Sports post-match, grinning as he recounted the finish. “Gerwyn’s a warrior, but I had to take my chances.” Littler’s stats were electric: a 101.23 average, six 180s, and 75% double-in success (12/16), outpacing Price’s 99.87 average and 60% doubles. Price, gracious in defeat, admitted: “Luke’s checkouts were unreal—that 154 killed me. He’s the real deal.” The win, earning £25,000, boosts Littler’s PCOM to 48th (£61,500), easing Minehead concerns.
The Context: Littler’s Grand Prix Redemption
Littler’s victory marks his deepest Grand Prix run, erasing first-round exits in 2023 (to Rob Cross) and 2024 (to van Gerwen). His mastery of the double-in/double-out format—once a self-confessed weakness—shone through, with clutch checkouts like the 154 complementing earlier gems (144 vs. van Veen, 170 vs. De Decker). Price’s mind games—“I’m here to win; if my A-game’s there, I win”—fell flat as Littler matched his intensity, answering a 140 checkout with his own 151 in Set 3.
The match, a 32-minute epic, saw Littler convert four of six break points and fend off Price’s late surge, including a missed 136 checkout by the Welshman in Set 5. “I’m buzzing to be in the semis,” Littler said, eyeing a clash with either Luke Humphries or Rob Cross on Saturday, October 11.
| Player | Average | 180s | Key Checkout | Outcome |
|——–|———|——|————–|———|
| Luke Littler | 101.23 | 6 | 154 (T20, T18, D20) | Winner (3-2 sets) |
| Gerwyn Price | 99.87 | 4 | 140 | Loser (2-3 sets) |
#### Fan and Expert Frenzy: “The Nuke’s Unstoppable”
Social media exploded under #Littler154, with 750k mentions by 10:30 PM WAT: “That 154 checkout? Littler’s a wizard—Price had no answer!” one post with 30k likes raved. Another: “Gerwyn talked big, but Nuke’s 154 was the ultimate mic drop.” Sky Sports’ Wayne Mardle called it “a generational moment,” while Paul Nicholson tweeted: “Littler’s doubling under pressure is scary—154 to bury Price? Iconic.”
#### What’s Next: Semifinals and £120,000 Dream
Littler’s semifinal berth guarantees £40,000, with Humphries or Cross next—potentially a rematch of his 2025 World Championship final (Littler won 7-4). His self-managed gamble, post-ZXF split, is paying dividends, but the £120,000 title remains the goal. Price, now 2-3 in their head-to-head, exits with pride: “Luke’s the future—I’ll be back.”
Littler’s 154 wasn’t just a checkout; it was a statement. The Grand Prix’s “toughest” test? The Nuke’s making it his playground.
