Red-hot Luke Littler averages 115 to seal back-to-back World Series titles at New Zealand Darts Masters

Luke Littler is on a different darting planet right now with 'The Nuke' going into orbit with a 115 average as he took down Luke Humphries 8-4 to seal his second World Series of Darts title in the space of seven days.

Littler mooted that he wouldn't return to Australia and New Zealand next year so he is making up for the lost time as he ends a superb run. Often jibed for not winning or playing too much this year, he has silenced the doubters by winning the World Matchplay and both World Series crowns.

The same can be said for Luke Humphries even in defeat who has received criticism and has been down on his own displays but a final run shows he is very much still in business apart from running into the wall that is Littler today. Littler sealed the title with seven 180's and 50% on the doubles. Not bad for a player who didn't hit a 180 at all in his opener yesterday.

To start the session, it was the Dobey and Bunting show as Dobey narrowly sealed the win over the top seed albeit the darts on show were out of this world as Dobey averaged 110 and Bunting averaged 108. A first time on the World Series in the Oceanic double that both players had averaged 108.

This featured three 180’s from Dobey, a spell binding 167 and one of the best games all year on the World Series. Dobey started superbly anyway going 2-0 up pinning a 112 checkout. Bunting cut the gap with an 11-dart 92 checkout.

But despite averaging close to 110. Dobey produced an epic 167 checkout to make it 4-1. Dobey hit double 20 to make it 5-2 and while Bunting hit 130 to make it 5-3. He missed 112 to stay in it and Dobey hit double 19 to seal it.

Then it was the turn of Humphries and Heta. ‘Cool Hand Luke’ sealed an opening break and Heta missed darts to hold and Humphries pounced consolidating for 2-0 with an 84 checkout. Humphries missed the bull for a 170 but returned for 25 for 3-0. Heta broke back but couldn’t find a way to extend it as Humphries missed 103 for 5-1 but he was eventually back to make it one away. He hit double 16 to make it 5-2 albeit Humphries held throw to make it 6-2.

Then it was the turn of Gerwyn Price and Luke Littler to win through to the semi-finals. Starting with the Iceman who battled past Josh Rock in a superb comeback win. Rock hit a 180 to leave double 11 and he got a go with Price unable to hit 101. 'Rocky' struck first to break for 1-0. Rock continued his rampant start and missed the bull for an 84 checkout. Price couldn't get near 132 and Rock made it 2-0. Price finally got on the board at 2-1 down. Rock set up double 16 off 121 and pinned double eight eventually for 3-1. Price sat on 147 for a nine-dart finish. He couldn't hit it and Rock looked at 121. A lapse of concentration saw Rock not even get a shot after hitting a treble. Price hit double 20 for a level game. Price hit two double 20's for an epic 137. Price hit double 11 for a 79 checkout and was suddenly one away.

Rock broke back with a 54 checkout and Rock sent it all the way. But an incredible leg saw Price snare it. Price went into treble one going for 170 but would return for 47. He missed two darts for the match and Rock looked at 101 but he missed double 12. Price returned for double 10.

A match with Littler loomed if he get past Mike de Decker and that he did. De Decker opened with an 88 checkout for a break. Littler hit back with a 41 checkout and held for 2-1. He also finally hit his first maximum. Littler started to motor. He pinned a 100 checkout for 3-1 and was half way to the finish throwing for 4-1. De Decker broke back with a 65 checkout to make it 3-2 but Littler came back and went one away. That he sealed as De Decker missed dart after dart to hold throw and Littler claimed it.

Prior to setting up that final, we had Luke Humphries facing off against Chris Dobey in the first semi-final of the evening. After Dobey’s heroics we might have expected the same again but in the end, it was a pretty one sided win for Luke Humphries who managed to produce his best yet over the World Series double header.

He averaged 102 with seven 180’s and 7/14 on the doubles to see off ‘Hollywood’. Humphries led early doors breaking throw and holding on double 10 for 2-0. He broke again in the race to seven with Dobey missing his chance to hold and gain a foothold in the tie as he was still getting beaten to nil. Humphries was averaging well in excess of 109. Humphries hit 60 to break back after Dobey finally claimed a leg and he did it in some style with a 60 checkout. Dobey reduced the arrears to 5-2 but missed a dart at double 20 for 5-3. Humphries returned to get a dart at double 20 off 77 and made no mistake to go one away. Humphries messed around completing the job and Dobey looked at 150 and pinned double 18 for 6-3. Dobey broke with a 68 checkout but his swansong wouldn’t last long as Humphries broke to seal the win.

While onto the second semi-final as Luke Littler faced Gerwyn Price in a hotly anticipated tie. He was dominant over Price who averaged 103 and still lost 7-2. Littler hit a 108.8 average, five 180’s and a high checkout of 140.

He broke to start the tie with an 11-dart 56 checkout. He held from there on double 15. The difference was in fact the early break for Littler as Price managed to hold but he couldn’t break. Littler could break though and did so twice in a row. He hit a 140 checkout to make it 5-2 and then held on double four for 6-2.

Littler sealed the deal from there on double 20 for an 11-darter, truly spellbinding from the 18-year-old as he aims to make it back-to-back.

Then Littler sealed the title in superb style seeing off Luke Humphries 8-4 to bookend an incredible month that saw him crowned the World Matchplay champion as well as winning both World Series.

Littler hit double 20 for a 13-darter to open up the race to eight. Littler held throw on double 16 and with Humphries missing double 20 for a 100 checkout, 'The Nuke' sprung into life pinning double 20 for 3-0. Littler missed darts to hold throw and this time was punished as Humphries left 41 and took it out for 3-1 down. He was on the board and throwing for 3-2 down. Humphries held for 3-2 down but Littler has surged ahead again hitting an 83 checkout on double eight to go half way to the finish.

Humphries missed 81 for a hold after the break and Littler had another break to go 5-2 up. He went three away. This proved vital as Littler went one away. After seven perfect darts, Littler hit 41 to go 7-3 up. Humphries hit back with an 11-darter to hold on double 16 but Littler was throwing for it. Littler sealed the title with an 11-darter himself pinning 81 to seal the win.