Luke Littler vs Luke Humphries LIVE: Teenage sensation slips to defeat in World Darts Championship final
Luke Littler’s remarkable run ended without a fairytale finish as the new world No 1 triumphed
Teenage superstar Luke Littler had his dream ending of winning a world title taken away by the impressive performance of new World No. 1 Luke Humphries who came from behind to win the World Darts Championship in a thrilling finale at Alexandra Palace.
Littler, seemingly unfazed by the occasion, started poorly with the darts in the opening set as Humphries slipped seamlessly into his rhythm. He broke the teenagers throw and went on the claim the set in quick fashion. Littler responded after the break with two 100+ finishes to get back on level terms.
Humphries took the third set and Littler the fourth with neither player managing to hold their throw in these early stages. It was the fifth set that saw Littler begin to tick in his, now almost trademark fashion. He hunted down the treble 20s and finished off his checkouts with verve as Humphries began to flounder. The 16-year-old took three sets in a row to open up a lead of two.
The final then swung definitively. Humphries upped his level as Littler’s dipped. The 28-year-old banging in the 180s with gusto and clinching enough doubles under pressure to keep the teenager at bay. When Humphries retook the lead from a break of throw the momentum was firmly in his corner and a hold of throw moved him within one set of victory.
Littler never wilted, he was out thrown. Constant pressure made Humphries work for his victory but a firm showing in the final set saw him win the deciding leg with a double 16 finish and lift the World Championship trophy for the first time.
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World Darts Championship final
Luke Littler 0-0 (1-0) Luke Humphries
Littler won the bull off in the practice room meaning he’ll be throwing the first darts of this final. It’s a cagey start from the 16-year-old which is matched by Humphries.
A 140 from Littler settles him and he manages to set up a finish of 164. Humphries leaves 120 to apply some pressure.
Littler can’t checkout and leaves 40. Humphries misses out on one dart at tops. Littler then hits it. The first leg is his!
World Darts Championship final
Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler makes his way out and receives a very loud round of applause. Once again he gives his mum a hug just before he strides up to the stage.
He looks relaxed and confident.
Luke Humphries is met with a chorus of well intentioned boos amid the cheering. He’s the pantomine villain tonight as the favourite to win the title.
Can Cool Hand Luke pull off another major title win, argubly the biggest of his career?
World Darts Championship final
The last three weeks have all been building to this. There will be a new world darts champion crowned this evening but who will it be?
Luke Humphries has been the best players in the world over the last three months. He’s claimed three major victories and risen to number one in the world.
Luke Littler is a 16-year-old sensation bursting onto the scene in this tournament. Only one of them can lift the Sid Waddell trophy.
Luke Littler’s coaches and friends gather to watch teenager in World Darts Championship final
Luke Littler’s friends and coaches gathered at St Helens Darts Academy on Wednesday 3 January to watch the 16-year-old play in the final of the PDC World Darts Championship.
The teenage sensation faces Luke Humphries in the showpiece event at Alexandra Palace, having captured the imagination of the sporting world with his fairytale run.
Luke Littler’s coaches and friends gather to watch teen in world championship final
Luke Littler’s friends and coaches gathered at St Helens Darts Academy on Wednesday 3 January to watch the 16-year-old play in the final of the PDC World Darts Championship. The teenage sensation faces Luke Humphreys in the showpiece event at Alexandra Palace, having captured the imagination of the sporting world with his fairytale run. “He’s always played with confidence, he loves a challenge and you can’t get much bigger of a challenge than playing in the world championship final at the age of 16,” Karl Holden, who runs the St Helens academy, said before the event.
Support for both sides
It’s perhaps no surprises that the Warrington Wolves are coming out in support of their homegrown teenager.
The Super League outfit has tweeted their encouragement of Luke Littler tonight while Championship side Leeds United are backing Luke Humphries who was named after the Elland Road club.
John Part assesses who will win the final
Former world champion John Part broke down the chances of both Lukes this evening. Speaking on Sky Sports he said:
“Luke Littler right from the start with the 106 average blew Christian Kist out of the water. We didn’t realise up until that moment that Littler was an actual threat do do what he has done and get to this final.
“Luke Humphries we expected from the start and we’ve sort of got the opposite. He came in rather flat, then had the issue with the darts getting broken, looked out of sorts and gathered himself just in time.”
The tournament has ‘captured the imagination'
Sky Sports’ Wayne Mardle speaking before the final said: “I’ve never seen a worlds like it.
“The standard has been incredible and the stories. we’ve got a new world No 1 in Luke Humphries and we’ve got a kid who could become the GOAT [greatest of all time].
“It’s one of those events that has just captured the imagination of so many people who have never shown an interest in darts because Luke Littler has just shown what he can do for the world stage.”
Luke Littler vs Luke Humphries LIVE
The Sid Waddell trophy has been brought out onto the stage. This is what the players are playing for this evening as well as the title of world champion.
There’s lots of talk about Luke Littler becoming the youngest ever winner of the tournament. Can he pull it off?
Littler vs Humphries tournament stats
Tonight’s final should be a cracker and the tournament stats prove that there is very little to separate the two players.
Luke Littler averages over 100 more often but Luke Humphries average in the semi-final was the highest of the two finalists throughout the competition.
Both men have hit 50 180s and checked out over 100 11 times. Here’s how they compare to one another:
Luke Littler
Tournament average - 103
100+ match averages - 4
Highest average - 106.12 (Round 1)
Lowest average - 92.65 (Round 2)
Tournament 180s - 50
Checkout percentage - 44.68% (84/188)
100+ checkouts - 11
Highest checkout - 164
Luke Humphries
Tournament average - 101
100+ match averages - 2
Highest average - 108.74 (Semi-final)
Lowest average - 91.38 (Round 2)
Tournament 180s - 50
Checkout percentage - 40.62% (78/192)
100+ checkouts - 11
Highest checkout - 170
What happened last year?
Michael Smith defeated Michael van Gerwen in the World Darts Championship final a year leg. That match produced one of the sporting moments of 2023 with a nine dart finish and some amazing commentary (see below).
Can Luke Littler and Luke Humphries live up to that encounter tonight?
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