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Littler retains darts crown, drops only four sets
Luke Littler, 18, successfully defended his PDC World Championship title on Sunday, losing just four sets across seven matches in a display that left rivals struggling to keep pace.
Dominance from start to finish
The Warrington teenager's path to back-to-back titles was marked by near-perfect play, culminating in a decisive victory over Gian van Veen in the final. Littler's performance-dropping only four sets in the entire tournament-drew comparisons to the sport's all-time greats.
"At times, I am unstoppable," Littler said during his post-match press conference, though he stopped short of fully embracing the label. "It's what dreams are made of. Nothing will ever beat a first world title, but to go back-to-back feels amazing."
Record-setting pace
Littler's achievements at such a young age have already placed him alongside legends of the game. With two world titles before his 19th birthday, he trails only Phil Taylor (14) and Michael van Gerwen (3) in PDC history. His 10 major titles also surpass those of former champions Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis.
His tournament average of 106.02 in the final-sixth-highest in PDC World Championship history-further underscored his dominance. Only Taylor's 2009 final average of 110.94 stands higher among modern players.
"His tournament average was 104, and even his 'off' game is world-class. He's a magnificent talent, right up there with Taylor and Van Gerwen."
Wayne Mardle, five-time World Championship semi-finalist
A new era in darts
The 2026 final, contested between Littler (18) and Van Veen (23), was the youngest in the tournament's history, signaling a generational shift in the sport. Littler's rise has coincided with a wave of young talent, including Josh Rock, Wessel Nijman, and Beau Greaves, all vying to challenge his supremacy.
"We're always going to have battles," Littler said of Van Veen, now ranked third in the world. "If he stays there and I stay there, we might meet again in the 2027 final."
Van Veen, while acknowledging Littler's brilliance, remains undeterred. "I know I can match him," he said. "The young players are here to take over."
Future ambitions
Littler's hunger shows no signs of waning. When asked about breaking Taylor's record of 16 world titles, he replied with a laugh: "It's so far away-14 to go. Another 15 or 16 years, I'd say."
"I think I could [beat Taylor's record] if I stay around long enough and keep the hunger. But like Michael van Gerwen says, once the hunger goes, there's no point playing."
For now, Littler remains focused on the present. "If I get five or six [titles], I'll be happy. I'm here to win."
