Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts prodigy, is on the cusp of becoming the PDC world No. 1, with predictions mounting that he could overtake Luke Humphries before the 2025 World Darts Championship. Littler’s meteoric rise was highlighted by his World Matchplay victory in July 2025, where he defeated James Wade 18-13, completing the Triple Crown (World Championship, Premier League, and World Matchplay) at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens. This triumph, reported by *Sky Sports*, narrowed the gap to Humphries in the PDC Order of Merit to £249,750, with Humphries at £1,782,750 and Littler at £1,533,000 as of September 1, 2025. Humphries’ first-round exit at the World Matchplay cost him £40,000 in ranking points, while Littler’s £200,000 prize boosted his standing.
Darts legend Phil Taylor, in a November 2024 *GB News* interview, predicted Littler would end 2025 as world No. 1, citing his hunger for wins over financial gain. A *talkSPORT* post on X on September 2, 2025, echoed this sentiment, noting Littler’s fourth title of the year at the Flanders Darts Trophy, where he edged Josh Rock in a final-leg thriller, further closing the gap. The PDC rankings, based on prize money over a two-year period, put Littler at a disadvantage due to his 2024 tour card acquisition, but his 2025 haul—£700,000 from two World Championships, £153,500 from the Grand Slam of Darts, and £110,000 from the UK Open—shows his relentless ascent.
Littler’s chance to claim the top spot could come at the World Grand Prix (October 6-12, 2025), where a title win and a Humphries early exit could erase the £232,000 deficit, per *Sky Sports*. Upcoming ranking events, including eight Players Championships and four European Tour events, offer further opportunities, though non-ranking World Series events in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands (August-September 2025) won’t count. Littler’s 101.19 rolling average, the highest in 2025 per @DartsOrakel on X, underscores his dominance, outpacing Humphries’ 99.02.
Despite their rivalry, Littler and Humphries share mutual respect, teaming up for England at the World Cup of Darts, though they suffered a shock loss to Germany. Humphries, gracious after Littler’s 115-average win in the New Zealand Darts Masters, admitted, “When Luke’s on it, he’s untouchable.” As Littler prepares for the World Series Finals (September 12-14), his trajectory suggests Taylor’s prediction may soon materialize, potentially reshaping darts’ hierarchy before the year-end championship.
