The 19-year-old became just the third person to win back-to-back Matchplay titles (or the fourth player in history, as noted in additional tournament accounts).
Luke Littler solidified his dominance on the sport’s biggest stage by putting on a masterclass at the Winter Gardens. The reigning world champion capped off a flawless week in Lancashire by overwhelming seventh seed Gerwyn Price in the final, securing a dominant 18-9 margin that underscored his current supremacy in professional darts. The winning margin looked set to be even larger when Littler raced into an 11-3 lead, prompting a battling display from Price—who averaged 104.97 in his performance of the tournament—before the 2022 runner-up fell to his second runner-up finish in four years while searching for a first TV major title since 2023.
Record-Breaking Averages and Financial Milestones in Blackpool
World number one Littler finished the week with an average of 111.04, beating Phil Taylor’s record of 106.31 in 2010. He averaged 111.53 in the final, setting a new record as he bettered Taylor’s 111.23 against Adrian Lewis in 2013. The 19-year-old averaged 109 or better in all five matches during his perfect week at the Winter Gardens and smashed the tournament scoring record, continuing his run of winning every PDC TV major in 2026. His path to the trophy included nailing 12 maximums in a dominant display, posting six ton-plus finishes in a high-scoring final, and smashing in 100+ checkouts by nailing 128 and 127 finishes in back-to-back legs. Littler also broke his own tournament record for most 180s.
The financial scale of Littler’s rise matches his on-stage output. Having already banked at least £65,000 by reaching the semi-final against Van Duijvenbode, the victory guaranteed him a minimum £125,000, taking him to £3,043,500 on the PDC Order of Merit list. Littler claimed £225,000 in prize money for winning the event, bringing his total to £3,143,500 over the PDC’s two-year order of merit. The latest win also saw him reclaim the Phil Taylor Trophy and £200,000 first prize (noted alternatively as £225,000 total winnings from the event), enhancing his hopes of sweeping every ranked major in a calendar year and extending his lead at the top of the PDC rankings.
Refusing to Slow Down After Historic Defense
Littler became just the third person (and fourth player) to win consecutive World Matchplay titles, joining an elite group with a performance that left his opponents searching for answers. Price, who averaged 104.97 in the final, has enjoyed a successful week by climbing to fourth in the order of merit and reclaiming the Welsh number one spot from Jonny Clayton. Yet the Welshman—who was searching for a first TV major title since 2023—fell to his second runner-up finish in four years, with the world number one making him look elite yet entirely outmatched during the contest.
Unfazed by the history books or his unprecedented bank balance, when told of his record-breaking prize money haul, the teenager refused to rest on his laurels.
“I want to stay dominant, I want to keep winning and winning,” he told Sky Sports. “I want to try and beat Phil’s (Taylor) record. I’ve got to keep going and obviously a fair bit to defend at the back end of the year.”
Luke Littler
We come back tomorrow and hopefully go back-to-back,
Littler added.
Speaking immediately after his win over Price in the final, Littler said: It's been a crazy week, one of the best weeks of my life. The darts I've played… it's been tough.
“The stats may look like it’s easy but when you’re on stage and how hot it is but I threw some of the best darts of my life.”
Luke Littler
Littler kicked off his 2026 with a second World Championship win and since added another two titles. He first won the UK Open in March, becoming the fourth player to defend his title in doing so, before a Premier League victory followed in May with a narrow 11-10 win over Humphries in the play-off final.
What’s Next
The next PDC ranked TV major is the BoyleSports World Grand Prix from September 28-October 4 at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, live on Sky Sports. Littler returns as defending champion after last year’s victory over Luke Humphries in the double in, double out event. The Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton (November 14-22) and the World Darts Championship (December 10-January 3) are also both live on Sky Sports, with Littler looking to retain his titles in both events.
Worth a look
