"I can still get better. I can get a lot better" - Luke Littler issues frightening warning after record-breaking World Matchplay triumph

Another major tournament comes and goes with Luke Littler concluding proceedings by lifting the trophy. This one may be the most special of them all. A record breaking week finished by a stunning 18-9 thrashing against Gerwyn Price to secure a second World Matchplay title in formidable fashion.

Averaging over 111, 'The Iceman' barely stood a chance and did well to get nine legs. Littler found six ton+ checkouts including a 167 at the start of the match that got him going. Almost half of his legs were done in 12 darts or less as he sprinted over the finishing line, leaving everyone in his dust.

Afterwards, he spoke to the media, including DartsNews.com, and shared his raw thoughts and emotions after a brilliant title defence at the Winter Gardens. "Obviously it's been good. I've come away with the best outcome there is in any tournament, lifting the trophy. The way I've done it has definitely surprised myself, but that's all down to the commitment I've got."

The records broken throughout the past week have been of mesmeric proportion. For starters, Phil Taylor's tournament average record has been obliterated. Formerly 106.31, Littler now holds the that accolade with a whopping 111.04. He also broke the most 180's, beating his own tally of 64 last year with 66 this time around. Another Taylor record that bites the dust was his highest final average, with the 111.23 against Adrian Lewis in 2013 bettered slightly with Littler's 111.53.

On top of all that, he became the first darts player to hit the £3 million sum on the PDC Order of Merit, clinching £225,000 in prize money. Not a bad week at the office.

However, the main priority was always lifting the trophy. "I wanted to win this trophy more than anything, to go back-to-back and put my name on that list," he commented. "That's what I've done. Obviously I wasn't playing my best before, but I've come here with a different mindset. It's a bigger tournament than the World Series, and yeah, I'm very happy with it."

From once looking up to the likes of Taylor and Michael van Gerwen to bettering their best performances at the tender age of just 19. The ominous anomaly in all of this is that this is just the beginning of what could be a period in darts ruled over by 'The Nuke.'

"I can still get better. I can get a lot better," he said. "Through the matches I was up to a 120 average at one point. I didn't maintain it, but maybe in a few years' time I will and finish a match averaging 120. At the minute I'm playing some of my best stuff and I've just got to keep it there."

It is now onto the next tournament with more records and accolades to be broken. One of the most memorable ones was van Gerwen's highest TV average when he demolished Michael Smith in the 2016 Premier League Darts with a staggering 123.4 average. Littler, with fond memories of that, now believes he could re-write the history books once more.

"I remember sitting there watching it. The way he did it was just incredible. He didn't really miss a thing, and if he'd hit a few more, it could have been even higher. That's definitely one of the records I want to break. I also wanted to break the match average here, but I'll have to settle for the tournament average and the 180s record for now."

Littler made his World Matchplay debut in 2024, a few months after announcing himself on the scene in that memorable Ally Pally debut. He had already won the Premier League Darts, but he came a cropper in the early stages against van Gerwen in his first voyage to the Winter Gardens. A year later, he proved that he was a class above the rest by completing the triple crown in fine fashion.

"Last year was definitely about proving a point," he admitted. "After 2024, I just wanted to come here, win games and get that winning feeling, and then I went on to lift the trophy. This year has just been so much better. I've felt a lot better, played some of my best darts and lifted the trophy again."

It was a painful defeat, but he could take away the positives from two years ago. "I think it depends on how you lose. If you lose and you've played badly, then myself and the other players won't be happy. But if you come off stage after averaging 110 and losing, there's not much you can do. I averaged 105 there and maybe could have won a few more legs, but I hit some crucial finishes in the match and I'm very happy."

What has not changed is the support the two-time world champion often receives from his family. You will rarely see Littler alone at a tournament. Surrounding and supporting him are his family regularly turning up all around the world to watch him perform and challenge in the biggest tournaments. In his interview after the title, Littler said "we" over "I", signalling that it was more than just him chucking the arrows on stage.

"They've been very important," he praised. "My family know me very well. We don't really go out and do much before games—it's all about relaxing. It's been a rollercoaster so far, but we're far from done."

Darts has gone through countless eras with different names taking the spotlight. From Eric Bristow to Taylor to van Gerwen and now Littler who is dragging the sport to different heights once seemingly unimaginable.

He is already in serious conversations with the greats of the game despite only being a few years into his professional career. "I'm a lot younger and the performances I'm putting in at this age are very good. Maybe in a few years' time I'll be playing at their level, but at the minute I think I'm maybe playing a little bit better. I'm just very happy."

He echoed the fact that he is planning on spending a number of years competing in the sport at the highest level.

"The main goal was to win every major at least once. I don't know how many years I've got left in me. I'm still only two and a half years into my professional career, and we're far from done."

The holiday to Spain may be in peril, but the Players Championship Finals could still be on the table for the 2025 winner. Littler is still yet to appear on the floor in 2026, choosing to skip all 24 events so far. With just 10 remaining, he is running out of time to get into the top 64 in the PDC Players Championship Order of Merit.

Confirming on stage that he will not appear in PC25 or 26 in Hildesheim, he did not the events in Leicester that will be taking the centre of his attention. Littler previously stated his intentions of trying to qualify for the Players Championship Finals if he won the World Matchplay, and he is staying true to his word, even if other plans have to be debunked.

"Obviously we planned the holiday before the Matchplay. We just said it is what it is, whether we win or lose. But now we've got to make that commitment and go to Leicester for the Players Championship events, even if there were other plans.

"Obviously we planned the holiday before the Matchplay. We just said it is what it is, whether we win or lose. But now we've got to make that commitment and go to Leicester for the Players Championship events."

He outlined the four events that he will compete in, hoping that they will be enough for him to squeeze in the qualification spots. A couple of titles may be needed, but if anyone is going to do it then Littler has to be up there. "I'm definitely going to have to do it. I know there are four events left, although I'm not sure exactly when because it might be before the World Series. We'll have to see, but yeah, sadly I've got to go to Leicester."

The qualification cut-off if only going to be rising from this point on with Littler keeping close tabs on proceedings. "I think Thibault Tricole is on about £64,000 at the minute. I'm not completely sure now, though. I think I'm around £22,500, so there's still a lot of work to do. I've been keeping an eye on it since the Players Championship events started, but that qualifying total is only going to keep going up towards the end. So yeah, sadly I've got to make that commitment."