March 2nd 2025.
Luke Littler had a night to remember as he claimed his first ever UK Open title in a dominant fashion. The 18-year-old Nuke made a statement by defeating James Wade with a resounding 11-2 victory in the final at Minehead. From the start, it was evident that Littler meant business as he stormed out of the blocks, winning the first five legs in just over eight minutes.
With a ton-plus average and consistent treble hitting, the reigning World Champion was on fire and at one point, he threatened to whitewash his opponent who was struggling to keep up. Despite Wade managing to scrape a couple of legs towards the end, it was clear that Littler was in a league of his own. The teenager eventually sealed the deal with a double six, claiming a well-deserved 11-2 victory and a hefty £110,000 prize.
This marks Littler's fifth TV title in less than ten months, a remarkable feat for someone so young. It is also his first major win since becoming the youngest-ever world champion at Alexandra Palace in January earlier this year. Speaking to ITV after his win, Littler expressed his joy at finally winning the UK Open title, a tournament he had been aiming for. He said, "It's one I've always wanted to win. I've been here twice before, first as a 16-year-old and then last year in the quarter-finals. So to come back this year and win it, it's a dream come true."
Looking ahead, Littler has his sights set on the Premier League and securing a spot in the top four to qualify for the O2. He also has a busy schedule with the Pro Tour and Players Championship coming up. But for now, he can tick off the UK Open from his list of achievements.
On the other hand, Wade had to admit that he was no match for Littler on the night. After beating Josh Rock and World No.1 Luke Humphries to reach the final, Wade couldn't keep up with Littler's exceptional performance. Reflecting on his loss, Wade said, "It's been a while since I reached the final. I played well in the semis, but in the final, he just outplayed me. He absolutely dominated me, and there was nothing I could do about it."
Despite the loss, Wade saw it as a step in the right direction and gave credit to Littler for his incredible talent. He said, "Fair play to Luke - at the moment, he's probably the best or second-best darts player in the world comfortably." It was a tough defeat for Wade, but he acknowledged the undeniable truth that Littler was simply on another level.
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