"Until I get that world number one spot, I’ll never call myself the best": Luke Littler still refuses to take top status in winning World Grand Prix

Luke Littler was once again crowned champion on the big stage, defeating Luke Humphries to lift the 2025 BoyleSports World Grand Prix title. The teenager added yet another major to his ever-growing collection and admitted that winning in Dublin meant just as much as any other triumph.

“Yeah, it feels amazing,” said Littler. “Probably one of the hardest majors to win, apart from the World Championship. But just to obviously beat three or four previous champions who’ve won it in the past all in a row, and then to pick up the trophy just feels amazing.”

The 19-year-old stormed into a 4–0 lead in the final, showing his trademark composure in the deciding legs that defined each of those early sets. “Yeah, I didn’t know I’d won every last leg,” he laughed. “I just had to hit it in the set. But yeah, they’re the moments that I’ve got to take, even if I’m against the darts or I’ve got the darts. For myself, you’ve got to try and produce your best and then go on and win the set.”

Littler had spoken before the final about wanting revenge after Humphries’ win in the Premier League, and he admitted there was a touch of redemption in the victory. “Yeah, it definitely feels good,” he said. “The scoreline definitely doesn’t reflect the game. We were both at each other. I missed doubles, he missed doubles. He won legs, I won legs. But I’m just glad to get over the line.”

With the business end of the season looming, the teenager believes this title is a statement to his rivals. “Yeah, obviously there’s only, I think, two or three majors before the World Championships, and it’s very busy with Pro Tours in between as well, plus exhibitions,” he said. “But yeah, certainly next weekend is off, and then from the weekend after that, there’s no weekends off until the Worlds.”

Reflecting on the final, he highlighted the importance of starting strongly. “Yeah, definitely the early sets are always crucial because I always say I want to get into the lead — I want to try and put my opponent behind, and that’s what I did,” said Littler. “Even at 4-0, I still knew Luke was there. When he got his set, I didn’t know, I had to ask Kurt (Grone) for two sets there, so I knew. I said to myself, ‘just win one out of the two,’ but I managed to win two and win the game.”

Having also claimed the World Matchplay and UK Open earlier in the year, Littler is well aware of the message his performances are sending. "Yeah, definitely,” he added. “I’ve obviously won one of the next two or three majors before the World Championships and it’s very busy. For us players, we only get a few days’ break. But yeah, it puts down a real marker for myself and, like I said, it’s all built up to the Worlds. There are still major titles to pick up before that one.”

There’s no time to rest for Littler, who was set to compete in the World Youth Championship the very next day.

“Yeah, obviously I just wanted to play in it,” he said. “So I play tomorrow, then Tuesday and Wednesday in the Pro Tours in Wigan, and then Thursday to Monday off. And that’s it for me — it’s all about from there onwards. Until I get that world number one spot, I’ll never call myself the best”

Despite his dominance, Littler insists he won’t consider himself the world’s best until the rankings prove it. “Yeah, obviously until I get that world number one spot, I’ll never call myself the best in the world,” he said. “Whoever’s number one — they’re the best. But knowing I’m only £70,000 in prize money behind Luke, and he’s got to defend all of his prize money at the Grand Prix, the Players Championship and the World Championship, I don’t want to think about it too much, but I could be world number one before the Worlds. I’ve just got to keep chucking away and put as much pressure on Luke as I can.”

The teenage sensation admits he’s been aware of the gap closing throughout the year. “Yeah, obviously at the start of the year there was a massive gap,” he said. “But with winning a few Euro Tours and then the Matchplay, and now this one, it’s really put him on his toes — I’m right behind him. But yeah, like I said, I can’t think about it too much. I’ve just got to keep chucking away and playing my best darts.”

With this victory, Littler became the youngest player ever to complete the clean sweep of Sky Sports’ televised majors — a staggering achievement for someone still in his teens. “Yeah, obviously time has definitely flown by,” he reflected. “Winning every major on Sky — it’s a massive thing. Not many have done it. But like I said, I’ve just got to keep chucking away and keep throwing my darts. The busy schedule is coming.”

Even Luke Humphries acknowledged post-match that he would need to “go away and practice even harder” to keep up with Littler’s pace — something the new champion took as a compliment.

“Yeah, what Phil did was unbelievable — no one could touch him,” he said when asked about comparisons to Phil Taylor. “But darts these days, you can lose against anyone no matter what rank they are. That’s how the game’s evolving now. But yeah, Luke will go back, have some rest, and he’ll be back — same as a few of the big names that went out early, like Michael van Gerwen. But yeah, this is my time tonight, and I’ve just got to keep going. It just goes to show how well I’ve played this year”

At 4–0 up in the final, Littler’s composure and consistency began to break his opponent’s resistance. “Yeah, obviously as a player, you can see Luke gets very frustrated at himself at times,” he explained. “But sometimes in my head I’m just like, ‘come on, Luke, it’s just a slight visit, let’s do this, let’s perform at our best.’ But that’s just all in his mind. And obviously if I’m going 3-4-0 up, it’s not going to help him anymore, so I just had to put even more pressure on him — which I did — and then I got over the line.”

The win saw Littler join Phil Taylor as the only player to win the World Championship, World Matchplay, UK Open, and World Grand Prix in a single year. “Yeah, that sounds unbelievable to say,” he admitted. “But it just goes to show how well I’ve played this year. I said at the very start, when I picked up the Worlds, ‘this is a brilliant way — and if I don’t win anything for the rest of the year, I can still call myself a world champion.’ But obviously the UK Open, the Matchplay and now this one — I definitely regret what I said! Because now I’ve picked up a few majors, and this is definitely one of the hardest ones to win. And yeah, there’s not many to go. That’s always been my dream — to put my name on every trophy”

With the European Championship next on the calendar, Littler knows exactly what he wants next. “Yeah, definitely the next one to focus on,” he said. “Obviously the Pro Tours are coming up on Tuesday and Wednesday — I’ve still got to pick up some money to go to Minehead. But yeah, the Europeans — and even the Pro Tours — they’re back to straight legs, which we want. It’s been very hard with the double start. But yeah, most of the majors now are straight legs, and I can’t wait for it.”

And if he goes on to complete the full collection by early 2026, Littler already knows how he’ll stay motivated. “Yeah, obviously once — hopefully — when I do win one of every major, I’ll be very happy,” he said. “But like I said, I’ll just add on to it, try and be double or triple champion in whatever major that may be. Once I’ve won one of them, that’s always been my dream — to put my name on every trophy. We’ll see what goes on from there.”