Luke Littler reaffirmed his aspirations to become world number one with a superb display against the current number one Luke Humphries to win the World Grand Prix
Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler romped to his latest televised PDC title as he thumped rival Luke Humphries 6-1 in the World Grand Prix Darts final. The darts sensation added another piece of silverware to his collection, averaging 92.35.
It proved to be back-to-back Grand Prix final defeats for Humphries after a 6-4 defeat to Mike De Decker, in what was another bitterly disappointing evening for the 30-year-old. The die-hard Leeds United fan trudged off the stage for each break, looking dejected as the world number one’s challenger moved a step closer to his crown.
In achieving the whitewash, Littler landed £120,000 towards his seasonal prize-pot with Humphries’ no. 1 tagline approaching ever-closer in front of him.
Going into the competition, the Warrington-born superstar was just £139,250 behind the leader in the ranking, with Sunday night’s triumph taking a significant chunk off that with Humphries landing £60,000 for reaching the final.
It was billed to be another classic between the two Lukes, after the pair dominated the tournaments so far in the calendar year. Humphries broke the throw in the first set but Littler broke straight back and took the set with double five, despite missing a dart at his favoured double 10
Early on in the second set, Humphries was left irritated by a whistle during his throw as he missed three darts at a double. Humphries seemed in control to hit back but Littler charged through to take a two-set lead.
In first leg of the third set, Littler missed bull for a nine-dart finish. Humphries missed double 20 to take the third set to a decider but he was afforded a let off by Littler after he missed the chance to move three up. The 30-year-old atoned for his error taking double five with his final dart.
However, Littler cruised to a three-set lead with a 104 finish.
Humphries had to overcome Nathan Aspinall, Krzysztof Ratajski, Cameron Menzies and Danny Noppert to reach the final but he came up against a brilliant Littler display.
At 0-2 in the third set, Humphries began to show resistance to take an important leg before continuing to swing the momentum back in his favour with a 110 checkout to make it 2-2.
But it proved to be short-lived as the darts superstar inflicted further misery, turning on the style to win the set-decider letting out a roar after moving to within two sets of a whitewash.
In the fifth, Humphries broke the Littler throw to have the darts for the set. He turned round to the crowd sarcastically after holding his nerve, landing tops to reduce the arrears.
But Littler ensured that his rival would not be allowed an opportunity back into the contest. With 170 to win the game, he couldn’t see it out. Humphries tried a superb finish with two double 18’s but missed his second dart.
The 18-year-old couldn’t see out his 105 finish and Humphries extended the showdown with double nine. Littler kept his nerve to complete a memorable performance on the oche.