Darts Mar 16, 2026

Luke Littler: World darts No 1 targets clean sweep of PDC titles after retaining UK Open with win over James Wade

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Luke Littler: World darts No 1 targets clean sweep of PDC titles after retaining UK Open with win over James Wade

Luke Littler says he is inspired by history as he aims to hold all the major PDC titles simultaneously following his successful defence of the UK Open.

The world No 1 defeated James Wade in the final for the second year in succession - becoming the first back-to-back UK Open winner since Michael van Gerwen in 2016.

Littler has not lost at a premier ranking event since defeat to Wade at the European Championship in Dortmund last October.

The teenager has won the last two World Championships and is also the reigning World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam, Players Championship Finals and World Masters champion.

The European Championship, won last time out by Gian van Veen, is the only major PDC ranking title not currently in his possession, while he was beaten in the final of the non-ranking Premier League by Luke Humphries in 2025.

Asked if a clean sweep of the sport's prestigious trophies is his goal, Littler said: "That is obviously the main aim.

"Even when I came off from my [UK Open semi-final against Josh Rock], I was straight on Instagram and TikTok, having a scroll and seeing how many consecutive semis it has been. I know my semi-finals record is good and my finals records is there as well.

"I am always on social media and I think it was a day or two before I travelled down I saw the last person to go back-to-back here was Michael [van Gerwen] 10 years ago. It was Gary Anderson at the Worlds. I took it game by game and got the job done."

Littler made a sluggish start to this season's Premier League, failing to reach a final across the first four weeks of the competition.

But he bounced back in Cardiff last week with his first nightly win, hitting 170 finishes against home favourites Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton en route to the trophy.

Littler added: "The Premier League [in Cardiff] was a massive win as it has obviously not been the start I wanted. Hopefully I can kick on and get even better.

"Even leading up the Premier League, people were doubting me not to win a game. I then beat [Price and Clayton] in their backyard and hit a 170 against them both."

Littler, who described Wade as a "gentleman" who has "plenty more left in the tank" after he beat 'The Machine' in Minehead on Sunday night,

Men's world tennis No 1 Carlos Alcaraz is among those shortlisted for World Sportsman of the Year and Littler hopes to speak to the Spaniard at the ceremony.

He added: "Hopefully I can meet Alcaraz. I am a big tennis fan and he won me some money against Novak Djokovic [recently]!

"It is an amazing feeling, I think I have broken through twice now, I did it in 2024! It is obviously massive."

Watch Night Six of Premier League Darts, from Nottingham, live on Your Site Action from 7pm on Thursday.

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