This post may contain affiliate links which means we may receive a commission for purchases made through links. Read more on our affiliate disclosure.
He’s only gone and done it again.
Luke Littler is the 2026 World Matchplay champion, back-to-back titles at the Winter Gardens, a tournament average that just broke Phil Taylor’s all-time record, and a performance in the final that was, frankly, ridiculous.
If you weren’t watching Sunday night in Blackpool, you missed something special, but here on Throw For 180 we’ve got a recap for you.
Luke Littler Wins World Matchplay & Destroys Price
Gerwyn Price is a former world champion, a Blackpool finalist, and one of the toughest competitors on the PDC circuit.
He was never going to be easy. And for about the first three legs, it wasn’t. Then Littler turned on the afterburners and the match was effectively over.
The final score was 18-9 to Littler, a demolition job. The Nuke averaged 111.53 on the night, smashed in 12 maximums to take his 180 tally for the week to 66, and hit a 148 checkout at one point just to remind everyone who was in charge.
Price did manage to peg it back briefly from 11-3 to 14-7, but Littler just closed it out without breaking a sweat.
That tournament average of 111.04 doesn’t just beat Phil Taylor’s record of 106.31 set in 2010, it absolutely destroys it. Taylor’s Matchplay record had stood for 16 years and Littler wiped it out with nearly five points to spare.
“It’s been a crazy week, one of the best weeks of my life with the darts I’ve played,” said Littler afterwards. You could argue with his modesty. It was probably one of the best weeks any pro darts player has ever played.
The Route to the World Matchplay Final
Littler opened his campaign on night one against German debutant Niko Springer and got the job done comfortably, averaging 109.5 to win 10-6. Nothing flashy, just efficient, clinical, and an ominous sign of what was coming.
The second round brought Nathan Aspinall, a genuine top ten player and never an easy opponent at Blackpool. Littler won 11-8 in what was, by his own standards, a tight contest.
He produced one of the best displays ever seen at the Empress Ballroom that night, and it still wasn’t quite enough to make it look routine. That tells you everything about where Aspinall’s level was.
The quarter-final against Josh Rock was another strong night. Littler won 16-7 and posted his fourth consecutive average above 109, he was certainly on a roll at this point.
In the semis he dispatched Dirk van Duijvenbode 17-5 with the same 110.88 average, and Price had already beaten Gian van Veen 17-10 on the other side of the draw to set up the all-important final.
He raced out to 8-2 with a jaw dropping 117 average through the first ten legs. The Dutchman hit a 146 checkout to offer some brief resistance, but it was academic.
Littler closed it out with a 13-darter and booked his place in a second consecutive World Matchplay final.
History Made by Littler, Again
By winning back to back Matchplay titles, Littler becomes only the third player in history to successfully defend the Phil Taylor Trophy, joining Taylor himself and Michael van Gerwen. That is the company he is keeping at 19 years old.
It also keeps his 2026 clean sweep firmly on track.
The World Championship, the World Masters, the UK Open, the Premier League, the World Cup of Darts and now the World Matchplay. Six major titles in one calendar year.
The only things still on the agenda before the year is out are the Grand Slam, the Grand Prix, and the Players Championship Finals, all of which he is the defending champion in.
His last defeat in a ranking major was against James Wade at the European Championship last October. That’s nearly nine months ago. This is not a hot streak, this is dominance.
What Comes Next
Realistically? More of the same. The Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton in November is next on the agenda for the big televised events, and Littler arrives there as defending champion and overwhelming favourite.
After that, it’s back to Ally Pally in December for the World Championship, where he’ll be bidding for a back to back world title as well.
Anyone who can stop him is welcome to step forward. So far, not many are managing to.
For more darts news and coverage throughout the season, stay with our Latest news section. For full World Matchplay results and history, visit the PDC official website.