"There’s no ceiling on what he can achieve" – Wayne Mardle full of praise for 'generational talent' Luke Littler

Luke Littler continues to leave the darts world in awe. The 18-year-old sensation from Warrington added yet another major trophy to his already remarkable collection on Sunday night, cruising to a 6–1 victory over world number one Luke Humphries in the 2025 World Grand Prix final. It marked Littler’s seventh major TV title since his explosive breakout at the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship.

Former pro turned Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle was glowing in his praise for the young superstar, insisting Littler has everything it takes not just to reach world number one, but to dominate darts for years to come. “He’s got it all,” Mardle told Sky Sports. “We all know he’s got it all. He knows he’s got it all. The world No 1 knows he’s got it.”

The former world semi-finalist highlighted Littler’s calm confidence after lifting the trophy, particularly his casual remark that it was “another one ticked off” his list. “What I admire about him is the way he just says it’s another one ticked off,” Mardle added. “And when he was talking about being world No 1, he says, ‘I’ll get there’. There is no doubt in his mind about what he can achieve. There’s no ceiling to it. Everything he does or seemingly wants to do, he does achieve in the end.”

Mardle admitted Littler’s rise has been remarkable to witness. “It is ridiculous him being 18, but you can actually forget that now, because it doesn’t seem to matter that he’s so young,” he said. “He’s still new to the sport, but he’s not new to winning."

“He’s not new to all these things that are happening to him. More has happened to him, positively, in his career than ever happened in mine and many other players’," Mardle added. "He’s done so much more than those who’ve thrown for 40 years. He is a generational talent. He’s amazing, and he dismantled the world No 1. That’s how good he is.”

Littler now adds the World Grand Prix trophy to his growing cabinet – a notoriously tricky event played under the double-in, double-out format that often trips up even the best. Yet the teenager barely flinched, dismantling Humphries, who finished runner-up for the second consecutive year. The win brings Littler to within just £70,000 of top spot in the world rankings – still held, for now, by Humphries.

After the loss, Humphries showed his trademark honesty and humility. Speaking to Sky Sports, the reigning world champion admitted he’ll need to raise his game to stop Littler from running away with everything. “I’ve got to go away, I’ve got to practise, get better,” he said. “Otherwise he’s going to win it all.”

Mardle called Humphries’ post-match reaction one of the best interviews he’s ever heard from any sportsman. “Luke Littler is very good, but Luke Humphries is the world No 1,” he said. “He’s literally saying that Littler’s better right now, but he’s going to do all he can to hang on to that top spot and improve over the coming months and years. The way he reacted in defeat was admirable.”

He was quick to point out that the 6–1 scoreline didn’t tell the whole story. “Let’s get it right,” Mardle continued. “Luke Humphries has been doing it under pressure as well, but someone else did it to him tonight. He just failed to play well in those last-leg deciders, and that was all it was. You can’t rip his performance apart – it was good, just not quite as good at the right moments as Luke Littler. That was all.”

The result made it six major televised finals between the two Lukes, further underlining their growing dominance at the top of the sport.

Mardle believes the “monopoly” between Littler and Humphries could define darts for the next several seasons. “Two years ago, neither of them had won a thing,” he said. “Luke Littler wasn’t on the PDC Tour and Luke Humphries hadn’t won anything except a couple of Pro Tour events. Twenty-two months later, look at what they’ve achieved. There’s no reason why they can’t do that for another two to four years.”

But while the pair may currently lead the way, Mardle was quick to acknowledge that darts never stands still. “We know there’s going to be another phenom coming around the corner because it happens really quickly,” he said. “There are others – Josh Rock, Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen could come back – and the monopoly may stop. But champions find a way. These two find a way so often.”