"It was a bit boring at times": Luke Littler expected more as Mike de Decker's World Grand Prix defence falters

Luke Littler marched into the quarter-finals of the 2025 World Grand Prix after dethroning the reigning champion Mike de Decker in Leicester, admitting that the contest “got a bit boring at times” as he cruised through to the next round.

Littler was emphatic at times at the World Grand Prix and others going through the motions as he capped it off with a 170 checkout. Speaking to the media including DartsNews.com, Littler admitted that he found it boring and being a showman, he had to find then big shots in a bid to gee himself up.

“Yeah, obviously very happy with the win,” Littler said after the match. “Another win in the bag and into the next round. But Mike didn’t play his best there and I just had to play along. It was a bit boring at times – obviously I expected something from the reigning champion, but he just couldn’t get those doubles to get him going on the scoring most of the time, and I just had to do my job.”

It was a more measured display compared to his “swashbuckling” performance in the previous round, but Littler said he performs to the level required by his opponent. “Yeah, obviously if my opponent’s playing as good as me on stage, then I’m going to match it and he’s going to match me,” he explained. “But Mike just didn’t really show up there and I just had to get the job done.”

At one point, Littler was seen aiming for the bull — a touch of flair in an otherwise routine display — something he later admitted was more for the crowd than himself. “Yeah, because in the second set I think I got a bit nervous. I think I missed a few darts at doubles, and when I went in at 2–0 I just said, ‘You’ve just got to get your job done now.’ I think going for the bull was the crowd’s fault,” he laughed. “I was looking at 10s or a treble for double 10, but I just had to go for it. But yeah, just happy to get into the next round.”

Pressed on whether the showman in him simply can’t resist entertaining, Littler was quick to point back to the fans. “Like I said, it was the crowd. I didn’t want to go for it, but the crowd wanted me to,” he said. “Obviously Mike didn’t set up the 170 or 167 that he would have left, but yeah, it didn’t go in, though I got the double 10.”

Now into the quarter-finals, Littler admitted his sights are set on the trophy. “Yeah, obviously it’s in sight, only a few games away,” he said. “I’ll have a little watch of the next game and see who I face.” When asked if he cared who it would be, he simply smiled: “Not really.”

Littler was asked whether he’d expected more from the defending champion, having faced him previously at the Grand Slam last year. “Yeah, definitely was expecting more,” he said. “I think in the first set he missed quite a few doubles, and then when we went 2–0 the screen came up as we walked off and it was something like 8 out of 42 starting. I was just like, ‘Crazy!’ But I just had to switch on and get the job done.”

Having already claimed multiple major titles, the teenager was asked about his ambition to collect the few that remain. “Just get it done as quick as possible and we’ll see where we go from there,” he replied. “But like I said, just happy to get this one won. Obviously knocking any reigning champion out is a big thing, even if he didn’t play his best. But we’ll look on to the quarter-finals.”

Littler reiterated that his aim is to win every major on the calendar. “Yeah, obviously I’ve said it for the past 18 months – all I’ve wanted to do is claim one of every major,” he said. “But whenever it is, I don’t know. Hopefully I can progress to the quarters, semis, final, but you can only look at what’s in front of you – you can’t look at what’s required.”

When asked about who he saw as his biggest threat in Leicester, Littler replied: “Obviously Gian could have done much better on Tuesday, but whatever happens there with Josh and Gezzy, I think it won’t be the averages-wise that Gian put in against me. But whoever I do play, it’ll be a good game.”

Though his dominance has made progress look easy, Littler insists he wants the challenge of opponents at their best. “Yeah, obviously I want everyone I play to play their best darts against me,” he said. “I think ever since I came on tour, I’ve always had that target on my back. You see – well, I don’t want to say ‘nobodies’ – but everyone’s going to perform against me. They always want to put in the 100-plus averages because they need to. But Mike there just didn’t play anywhere near his best.”

The World Grand Prix’s double-in format is known for tripping players up, but Littler said it’s not something he’s overly familiar with. “Not really,” he admitted. “I don’t think I’ve ever played double-in apart from last year and now this year. But when we’re practising, it’s just the same routines. Tonight and Tuesday I was just practising on tops and tens, nothing else – just getting the feel for actually hitting the doubles.”

Littler said he didn’t necessarily sense nerves from his opponent, but understood the pressure of being the defending champion. “I didn’t obviously look at him as being nervous, but obviously the expectation of coming back as a reigning major champion, there’s going to be that added pressure,” he said. “He didn’t say much to me – he just said, ‘Well done’ – but I think he was obviously feeling it a little bit, and the crowd were definitely on my side.”

The match ended in spectacular fashion, with Littler finishing on the 170 – the “big fish” – to seal victory. “I think the most important part was moving over to get that treble 19 and then the 60,” he explained. “But I just said to myself, ‘Let’s just end on something big,’ because most of the game had been very boring.”

His next opponent will be either Gerwyn Price or Josh Rock – two players he admits bring out his best. “Yeah, no matter who wins there, it’s definitely going to be a good game,” Littler said. “Obviously Josh has been flying this year, and Gezzy’s won this plenty of times. I sat on stage there happy. I think it’ll go 2–2 and let them fight for it.”