Luke Littler secured his first World Matchplay title in July 2025 by defeating James Wade 18–13 in the final at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens. The 18-year-old’s campaign included a nine-dart finish against Josh Rock in the semi-finals, making him the youngest player to win the tournament.
A Historic Campaign in Blackpool
The tournament, which featured a total prize fund of £800,000, was hosted at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Littler’s path to the title was marked by high-scoring performances. During his semi-final match against Josh Rock, Littler hit a nine-dart finish in the eighth leg. The pair combined to set a record for the most maximums hit in a single World Matchplay match with 29, and Littler eventually set a new record for the most maximums by an individual in a single tournament campaign with 64.
Tournament Debuts and Departures
The 32-player field included a mix of established veterans and new talent. While Cameron Menzies and Wessel Nijman made their event debuts, other long-standing fixtures of the circuit saw their streaks impacted. Michael Smith failed to qualify for the event for the first time since 2013, while James Wade marked his 20th consecutive appearance at the tournament.
Defending champion Luke Humphries, who defeated Michael van Gerwen 18–15 in the 2024 final, was eliminated early in the 2025 competition, losing 10–8 to Gian van Veen in the first round. The event also hosted the fourth edition of the Women’s World Matchplay on July 27, which was won by Lisa Ashton.
Evolution of a New Superstar
Littler’s rapid ascent in the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has been a subject of intense focus since his breakthrough at the World Darts Championship. Following his 8–5 victory over Michael van Gerwen at the Bahrain Masters, where he also hit a nine-darter and a maximum 170 checkout, industry figures advocated for patience regarding his development.
Everyone says he’s the new kid, but everyone knows what he is capable of. The crowd, the television, everyone wants to make him bigger, but he’s already a good player. I know we all want to push him, but let him grow, let him do other things. You have to learn, the crowd has to learn and everyone who is involved in television has to learn. Don’t push him too much.
Littler’s 2025 World Matchplay victory reflects his continued performance at the highest level of the sport. His win in Blackpool adds to a career trajectory that began with his debut senior PDC title in Bahrain, where he noted that despite his success, he had not thrown a dart since the world final. As the youngest player to claim the World Matchplay title, Littler now holds a position in the sport previously occupied by legends like Phil Taylor, for whom the tournament trophy was renamed in 2018.
