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Luke Littler Ascends to World Number One with Grand Slam Triumph
Luke Littler marked a historic milestone by clinching the world number one ranking for the first time, following a commanding 16-11 victory over Luke Humphries in the Grand Slam of Darts final held in Wolverhampton. This win not only secured Littler’s title defense but also cemented his position atop the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) world rankings.
Earlier, Littler’s semi-final win against Dutch contender Danny Noppert, with a scoreline of 16-9, guaranteed his rise to the summit of the PDC rankings regardless of the final’s outcome. Demonstrating remarkable composure, Littler dominated the closing stages of the final, winning 10 of the last 13 legs against his long-time rival Humphries, maintaining his unbeaten streak in the Grand Slam event.
At just 18 years old, Littler has become the youngest player ever to hold the PDC world number one spot, eclipsing Michael van Gerwen’s record, who first achieved the feat at 24 in 2014.
“I can finally say I’m the best in the world,” Littler expressed after his victory. “Being world number one and defending this title back-to-back makes it even more special. Now that I’m here, I’m determined to stay at the top for years to come. There’s a target on my back from Luke and all the other players, which only fuels my hunger.”
Final Showdown: A Battle of Momentum and Precision
The final was a thrilling contest marked by shifting momentum. Littler surged ahead early with a 2-0 lead, but Humphries responded emphatically, winning four consecutive legs to take a 4-2 advantage. Humphries maintained his lead until Littler’s spectacular 167 checkout leveled the match at 8-8.
The turning point arrived at 10-9 in Littler’s favor. Humphries, who was in a strong position to close out the leg, opted for a challenging 170 checkout but missed, followed by a missed setup on his next turn. Littler capitalized with a flawless 160 finish, extending his lead to 11-9 and ultimately sealing the match without looking back.
Financially, Littler’s prize money over the two-year Order of Merit period reached £1,770,500 after the final, with his victory pushing the total to £1,850,000. Humphries, defending his 2023 Grand Slam winnings, would have earned £1,769,000 even if he had retained the title, narrowly trailing Littler’s earnings.
Understanding the Rankings and Expert Insights
The PDC rankings are calculated based on prize money accumulated from ranking events over a rolling two-year span. Former BDO world champion Mark Webster praised Littler’s rapid rise, stating, “Achieving world number one in under two years is extraordinary. Luke consistently performs at a high level, rarely experiencing prolonged slumps. He’s a phenomenal talent.”
During the semi-finals, Littler overcame a slow start and a fierce challenge from Noppert, trailing 8-6 before storming back to win 10 of the next 11 legs. He finished with an impressive average score of 102.62, underscoring his dominance en route to the top ranking.
Meanwhile, Humphries extended his reign as world number one by delivering a stellar performance against Gerwyn Price in the other semi-final, winning 16-13. Humphries averaged 106.25 and hit 16 maximum 180s, delaying the official ranking update until after the final and giving himself one last match as the top-ranked player.
Rivalry Intensifies Ahead of the World Championships
Despite relinquishing the number one spot and suffering another defeat to Littler following his loss in the World Grand Prix final last October, Humphries remains defiant and motivated. With the World Championships less than a month away, the 30-year-old is determined to reclaim his position at the pinnacle of the sport.
“I’m going to win the World Championships,” Humphries declared confidently. “I’m ready to go head-to-head with Luke. Fatigue caught up with me at the end today, but we’ll battle it out at the Worlds and see who comes out on top.”
When asked about their dominance in the sport, Humphries acknowledged their exceptional level: “I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but Luke and I are playing on a different level right now. We’re on opposite sides of the draw, and it’s up to others to stop us. I want to face him in another world final.”
Littler echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the fierce competition between them and the gap they have over other players. “It’s definitely a war for the top spot. Neither of us wants to be second. The finals and statistics prove that we’re ahead of the pack. If fans are tired of seeing us, then someone needs to step up because we’re going to keep winning. We’ll likely meet in many more finals, and the rivalry will only grow stronger.”
He added, “We’ve both achieved similar success in titles, but now that I’m number one, Luke wants it back. This battle will push us to play even better, and fans can expect many more thrilling matches.”
