Luke Littler Retains World Matchplay With 18-9 Win, Breaking 2 Phil Taylor Average Records
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 26
Luke Littler Retains World Matchplay With 18-9 Win, Breaking 2 Phil Taylor Average Records
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 26
Summary
19-year-old Luke Littler crushed Gerwyn Price 18-9 in Blackpool to defend his World Matchplay crown, becoming only the fourth player to win the title back-to-back.
111.53 was Littler's average in the final and 111.04 his average for the tournament, both new World Matchplay records that beat Phil Taylor's previous marks.
£225,000 for the title lifted world number one Littler to £3,143,500 on the PDC two-year order of merit, putting him £2.13 million clear of second-placed Luke Humphries.
12 maximums in the final gave Littler a tournament-record 66 180s, while his victory extended his unbeaten run in matches of 20 legs or more to 29.
The win also fuels Littler's bid to sweep every PDC ranking title in 2026, though he still needs enough Pro Tour results to qualify for the Players Championship Finals.
With his opponent averaging a staggering 105 and still getting crushed, has Luke Littler permanently broken the competitive balance of professional darts?
How long can Phil Taylor's remaining legacies survive against a teenager who is effortlessly shattering decade-old records?
Can a 19-year-old prodigy maintain this unprecedented dominance, or will early wealth derail his historic calendar sweep bid?
The Littler Effect: How a 19-Year-Old Is Rewriting Darts History and Driving a Global Boom in 2026
Overview
Luke Littler’s historic 2026 World Matchplay victory, where he defeated Gerwyn Price and broke long-standing records, has sparked a dramatic transformation in professional darts. His dominance not only made him the first player to surpass £3 million on the PDC Order of Merit but also triggered the 'Littler Effect,' leading to record-breaking TV viewership, sold-out events, and a surge in youth participation. Littler’s rise forced rivals like Luke Humphries to adapt, attracted massive sponsorship deals, and drove the PDC to expand prize funds and broadcast contracts, reshaping the sport’s commercial and competitive landscape.