Incredulous Luke Littler thrashes stricken James Wade, seals fifth major title with UK Open glory

The incredulous rise of Luke Littler continues with 'The Nuke' sweeping aside James Wade with relative ease to seal a fifth major title and a first at the UK Open.

He adds to the Premier League, World Series of Darts Finals, Grand Slam and World Championship. Wade was not at the races at all and looking injured throughout with trouble getting to and from the oche losing 11-2 in the end.

He also stabbed his finger towards the end of the contest as he kept looking at his hand after throwing. But Littler was in free flowing mode and would not allow sentiment as he lives up to his favourite tag in Minehead this weekend.

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Littler started superbly with an 88 checkout on double 14 for a 14-dart hold. Littler hit the first maximum of the match. Wade couldn't mop up 76 and Littler returned for a 91 checkout and a break of throw.

A 180 and 50 checkout on double 20 saw Littler continue to race through the motions with a 112 average.

His average ticked towards 120 as he hit a third maximum leaving 41. He missed double 20 and double 10. Wade missed double 19 for 118 and Littler returned only to miss three more.

Wade missed more though and kept giving Littler a reprieve. But Littler gave the same handout. Wade went all the way down to double one as Littler finally mopped up double two for 4-0.

Luke Littler made light work of James Wade on Sunday night.

Another maximum for Littler for a 180 each leg followed. He set up double 20 from 81. He sat at 5-0 up after the opening stanza. Littler hit a fifth maximum to leave 81. He clipped the wire for an 11-darter but then Littler hit double three.

Wade looked stricken with an injury of some kind as he was averaging only 85 up there. Littler hit a 60 checkout as Wade continued to struggle with every dart being a struggle to pick up from the oche as 'The Nuke' surged in confidence and further towards the finishing line.

A 54 checkout saw Littler break again and he was throwing for a 9-0 lead. He missed 64 for 9-0 but Wade who looked to stab his finger in the previous leg had his woes added to as Littler went two away.

Wade continued to miss as it became a bit of a non event. Littler gave him another chance though missing 61 and he finally hit a double to go 9-1 down.

Wade received ironic jeers as he returned to the stage delayed with an even more pronounced limp. Littler missed 120 for 10-1 but Wade couldn't hit 78 on double 20 for 9-2 and 'The Nuke' went within one at 10-1.

He started with a 180 but missed match darts and Wade returned for 85 to make it 10-2. Littler was throwing to become the 14th different winner of the UK Open. He hit 134 to leave 142 with Wade not on a finish. He whittled it down to 84. Match darts were missed but he returned for double six for the win.

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