"Now I want to stay there for a few years": Double Grand Slam winner Luke Littler warns rivals long World No.1 reign awaits

Luke Littler secured back-to-back Grand Slam of Darts titles after a clinical victory in Wolverhampton, rounding off a landmark day in which the darting sensation also officially became the new world number one.

The 18-year-old delivered another statement performance on the big stage, beating Luke Humphries in a high-quality final to extend his unbeaten record in the tournament to 14 matches. “It’s a special feeling,” Littler said post final. “It’s been a tremendous week, ten days, and the hard work has paid off and I can go home as champion.”

The final swung decisively in Littler’s favour with a stunning 160 checkout to move 11–9 ahead — a moment he identified as the true turning point. “Yeah, I felt like it was a turning point. I got back into the lead and then went on to go into the last break 15–10. I knew I was only a leg away, but I just had to keep focusing and get that one leg over the line.”

Littler’s love affair with the Grand Slam continues, with a second straight title following three more group-stage wins this year. “It’s just like a little Champions League knockout,” he said. “To win all three games and remain unbeaten out of the group stage — that’s when the longer format comes into play and that’s when you see the best out of me.”

His run to the title carried extra weight given the significance of the day. After his semi-final win, Littler knew he would end the tournament as the new world number one. He admitted he had been watching the rankings closely, particularly with Humphries still within touching distance. “If Luke won tonight he’d only be £500 behind me, but I’ve managed to pull away and make that a smaller gap.”

The win also marked his first successful defence of a PDC premier title. “It’s not easy going back-to-back in any competition and I’ve done it here. The hard work’s paid off.”

Throughout the season, Littler had resisted declaring himself the world’s best despite the statistics pointing firmly in his favour. After lifting the trophy and confirming his new status, he finally allowed himself to say it.

“Yeah, I am the best in the world. I can finally say it. World number one. And to top it off, going back-to-back makes it even more special.”

The rivalry between Littler and Humphries has dominated the sport, and many pundits believe they are forming darts’ defining modern-era duel. Littler agrees. “The finals show it, the stats show it. If everyone is getting bored of me and him, then someone needs to stop us, otherwise we’re going to keep winning. One and two — we’re always going to meet in the final if we get past our opponents.”

Humphries’ two-year reign as world number one came to an end over the weekend, and Littler was full of respect for his rival. “Luke was an incredible world number one. He won plenty of titles along the way and kept that gap from me. I won many more to close the gap and now I’ve finally overtaken him. Now he wants it back and I’ve got to make sure I’m on my game if we meet in another final.”

Asked whether he believes he now has a psychological edge over Humphries, Littler dismissed the idea. “I wouldn’t say I’m in his head. It’s a brand new final for us — whatever happens on the day. Luke played fantastic, so did I. But the 160 to get myself into the lead and go two legs clear, I think that really changed it.”

The comparisons with the legendary Taylor–Van Barneveld rivalry continue to grow. Littler said such parallels are flattering but insisted: “I don’t think anyone is going to get past Phil’s records and whatever he’s done. Me and Luke are just going to keep doing our own business, and if we meet in the final then it’ll be another great final.”

With the world title, world number one spot and now a major defence all achieved before turning 18, the question naturally turned to how Littler stays hungry. He referenced Michael Smith’s famous line about having “completed darts.”

“You’ve just got to keep going along,” Littler said. “You’ve got to keep picking up more titles — whether it’s Pro Tour, Euro Tour, a major, an unranked tournament on the World Series — you’ve still got to be wanting it. For myself, number one — you want to stay there for as long as possible.”

He also hinted at long-term ambitions that could put him among the all-time greats. “Now I can try and get my name on every trophy twice, then a third time and a fourth time, and it could add up to two digits. Now I know I can defend a title, I can go on and defend many more.”

Attention now turns to the World Championship after Minehead next week, where a repeat of this Grand Slam final already feels inevitable. Littler anticipates another showdown but insists he has business to attend to first. “If it all goes to plan then me and Luke will meet in the final. But we’ve still got Minehead next week, a few exhibitions, just to keep the arm going and our focus on the Worlds.”

As he left the stage with another major title in hand, Littler’s message was simple: he may have climbed to world number one, but he’s only just getting started. “I’m hungry to stay there,” he said. “It’s taken me 19–20 months to get to world number one. Now I want to stay there for a few years.”