"I'm pretty lucky she has come over": Luke Littler thankful for support of girlfriend after World Series double amid manager illness

Luke Littler continued his sensational run of form by claiming back-to-back World Series titles down under, lifting the 2025 New Zealand Darts Masters to follow last week’s win in Australia. The 18-year-old produced a dominant performance in Hamilton and admitted afterwards that he felt unstoppable on stage.

“Yeah, obviously very happy,” Littler reflected. “Tonight it was a bit better than last night, same as last week. But yeah, pretty much what I said last week – us Premier League players, we know what to expect from each other, we bring the best out of each other. But I just felt untouchable tonight.”

Asked whether opponents needed to catch him early in tournaments before he found his stride, Littler agreed it could feel that way. “Yeah, obviously that could be the feeling right now, but I’m just playing my darts and tonight it couldn’t have gone any better. The scoring, the doubles, and in the final I just felt really untouchable.”

During the break in the final, Littler even managed a nine-darter in practice. “Yeah, obviously I came back off stage after the break and my first nine darts was a nine-darter. And then obviously when I left 141 before, I was really feeling it, but missed that treble 17. But I’d say 100% I would have hit the double 15.”

For Littler, being in that kind of rhythm feels natural. “It’s just a case of you know where the treble 20 is, you know where the cover shots are. And I think within the last two legs there I hit four or five 140s. But yeah, I was just in the zone and I wasn’t missing much.”

The teenager saw off a stellar line-up en route to victory, including wins over Mike De Decker, Gerwyn Price, and world number one Luke Humphries.

“Yeah, I think it’s just for myself, just getting into that place, getting into a rhythm,” Littler explained. “Obviously, I played well against Mike, then against Gezzy – everyone knows the record – and it was nice to get another win against him. And then me and Luke. Obviously Luke wasn’t at his best, but I think I was just a bit better tonight.”

With three successive titles now under his belt, Littler admitted the thought of domination may be creeping into his rivals’ minds. “Yeah, well, I think obviously they could be thinking that. But for myself, I just want to win everything that comes my way. I sat on stage there – the next one is Antwerp for the European Tour. So hopefully I can make it four titles in a row.”

Since winning the World Matchplay, Littler has swept through Australia and New Zealand unbeaten, and he acknowledges this may be his finest spell yet.

“Yeah, I feel very good now. Obviously it’s three titles in a row for myself. The darts are there, the averages. And like I said, I just feel unbeatable at the minute. I’d say this is probably one of the best patches I’ve been in for quite a while.”

He added that his motivation remains high: “It’s just for myself, just putting in the prize money, adding it on. Obviously, putting pressure on Luke – I’ve said plenty of times – trying to get that world number one spot for the World Championships. But for now, it’s just fly home tomorrow, chill out, and then it’s on to Antwerp where hopefully I can make it four in a row.”

Much of the focus is on Littler’s burgeoning rivalry with Humphries at the top of the rankings.

“Yeah, I think obviously me and Luke, people would say we’re the two best in the world right now – number one and two. But we just play our darts. Obviously I was really good tonight, he couldn’t do much. As I said on stage, I was disappointed going into 4-2. It could have been 5-1 or 6-0, but hitting that 83 to go 4-2 into the lead was a massive breaking point. And then I just had to switch on from there and get over the line.”

When told Humphries had admitted Littler was the better player at the moment, he responded: “Yeah, obviously he’s world number one. And I’ve said plenty of times until I get to world number one, I won’t call myself the best player in the world. I think number one, you’re the best – whether you’re winning or not. I’d say form-wise at the minute, I’m best on the stats. But yeah, I’ve just got to keep it up.”

With Littler and Humphries swapping majors between them in recent months, questions are being asked if the duo are pulling clear of the rest.

“Yeah, I mean that’s just down to us. We’re playing really well at the minute, and like you said we’re picking up the major titles between us. But I’m sure one of us just wants to go on and win everything. For ourselves now, we’ve just got to keep focused on the next one.”

Looking ahead to a packed calendar, Littler explained: “I fly home tomorrow, have a week off, and then four or five days later we fly out to Belgium. And from there I think it’s four or five weekends back-to-back – Euro Tour, the World Series Finals. But it’s still titles to be added, still prize money onto the rankings for myself. But yeah, go home tomorrow, probably won’t put much practice in, but I’ll put a little bit in so I’m ready for Belgium.”

While his parents didn’t travel this year, Littler was glad to have company on the long trip. “Yeah, last year with my family we struggled with jet lag – we were up at silly hours in the morning, all in the same room, all up at the same time. But yeah, I’m pretty lucky my girlfriend has come over. If she didn’t, my manager went home because of an illness, so I could have been on my own for two weeks. But yeah, it’s just good to have her here to give me some support.”

Littler now heads back to the UK before resuming on the European Tour in Antwerp, where he will chase a remarkable fourth consecutive title. “Hopefully I can make it four in a row,” he smiled.