"If someone doesn't get into him and do some damage, his confidence is going to get even higher": John Part sees Littler UK Open win as 'ominous' for rivals

Luke Littler has made history again by winning the UK Open. The young Englishman defeated James Wade 11-7 in the final, becoming only the fourth player ever to successfully defend the title in Minehead. That puts him alongside illustrious names like Raymond van Barneveld, Phil Taylor, and Michael van Gerwen. Former world champion John Part, now working as an analyst and commentator for Sky Sports, sees a foreboding sign for the chasing pack.

Although Littler did not hit his absolute peak at the recent UK Open, the young star once again impressed with his ability to close out matches. According to Part, that may be the most worrying signal for the rest of the PDC field. "It is ominous in that sense that he is winning everything anyway. He is not playing his very best, not consistently," he said on Love The Darts podcast.

Throughout the tournament, Littler had several spells where his game didn’t fully click. Yet he consistently managed to strike at the decisive moments. According to Part, that is a quality only the absolute elite possess. "He is managing games well in terms of getting the job done. I really admire that he's throwing the darts when needed," he said. "But he just looks sloppy far too often as well."

The Canadian believes this shows that even with a so-called B-game, Littler can still be better than most players on tour. If he starts producing his absolute top level on a consistent basis again, the gap to the competition could grow even wider.

The path to the title was anything but straightforward. In Minehead, Littler had to negotiate a string of strong opponents to lift the trophy again. Among those he beat were Damon Heta, Kevin Doets, Gary Anderson, Danny Noppert, and Josh Rock before facing Wade once more in the final.

The clash with Rock in particular was tense. The Northern Irishman even took the lead and briefly looked on course for an upset. However, the match ultimately swung back in Littler’s favor. “So, I am thinking even when he played Josh and I don't even know how Josh got ahead in that match but that could have really been fatal."

Part also sees another effect of these less dominant wins. Because Littler doesn’t always blow everyone off the stage, opponents keep believing they can beat him. "These players who he is doing it against, they are going to remember the next time and they're going to be eager for another chance to walk into him because they're not getting just completely slaughtered."

According to Part, that’s not usually the scenario a world number one aims for. Ideally, opponents get hardly any chances at a finish. "That is what you want to do as a world No 1. You don't want there to be any issues. The ideal thing is that the only shots for an out they get are the 161 or something and that is the only opportunities you'll let them have. That is when you're really playing superb darts.

Yet the current situation could ultimately work in Littler’s favor. As long as no one manages to hand him a clear defeat, his confidence will only grow.

"Although he isn't doing that, he is still winning, so we have to wait and see which way it's going to go. The problem is if someone doesn't get into him and do some damage and really actually bother his confidence, his confidence is going to get even higher.

"He will be thinking that he is not even playing his best and he is winning all these things."

In the final, Littler once again faced Wade, who is enjoying a strong start to the season. Many observers felt that “The Machine” had a good case for a Premier League Darts spot, but he ultimately wasn’t selected.

According to Part, that disappointment may actually have been a key source of motivation. "He is definitely on course. I think he had a little bit of a case to getin the Premier League," Part added.

Part suspects the snub has given Wade extra energy. "But I look at it - if he had got in the Premier League, would he be doing all this now? It's sort of like the response, the indignity, the outrage, whatever he's feeling inside has been a motivational factor for him as an amateur psychologist here. I am thinking that this has all probably worked out to the best for him.

If Wade can maintain his current form, Part expects more good results to follow. A major title in 2026 would almost certainly put him back on the radar for future Premier League selections. "Certainly, if the Premier League is his deepest desire to get back in there, then if he just keeps this up, I don't see how he can miss if he gets a major this year.

"The way he is playing, you figure he would probably get something along the lines because he's playing very well."