Luke Littler explains gesture during emotional celebration following comeback win at World Matchplay Darts
The Nuke battled back from 7-2 down to beat Jermaine Wattimena 13-11 in a thrilling tiebreaker last night.
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Luke Littler came from behind to beat Jermaine Wattimena
Credit: @LukeTheNuke180
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Littler pointed to a badge stitched onto his shirt
Credit: @LukeTheNuke180
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Littler is now into the quarter-final
Credit: Rex
But the 18-year-old finally brought his unstoppable best to the oche when needed and he
Littler shouted "come on" when securing his spot in the quarter-final with passion and relief etched on his face.
He then pointed to the bottom of his shirt and flexed it towards fans.
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Littler has a badge stitched on there that features his name, the
Asked about the meaning behind the gesture, Littler revealed: "When I won I pointed to the star on my shirt.
"I'm a world champion for a reason. I find these gears when I need it."
Littler added: "I've not felt pressure like that since the first round of the World Championship against Ryan Meikle.
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'Jermaine kept putting me under pressure. He was always right behind me, but when I got into the lead I was determined not to let it slip away.'
Littler faces
Luke Littler reveals gruelling new training regime that saw him almost break darts record
On the other side of the draw, it is Gian van Veen vs James Wade
and Stephen Bunting vs Jonny Clayton tonight.
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Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘I can say I've completed the Triple Crown' – Luke Littler earns first World Matchplay title after comeback success
Littler claimed a hard-fought 18-13 victory at the Winter Gardens to become the fifth player to win the PDC Triple Crown – Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Luke Humphries having also won World Championship, Matchplay and Premier League titles. Wade was in his seventh Matchplay final 18 years on from his solitary success in 2007, which came six months after Littler was born. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Littler's scoring power in a high-quality contest proved decisive – he hit 17 180s to Wade's six in averaging 107 – and set a new tournament record of 64 maximums, beating Adrian Lewis' previous best of 56. 'It means absolutely everything,' Littler told Sky Sports after winning the last four legs to hold the Phil Taylor Trophy aloft. 'I idolise Phil, he's come here 16 times and won it. Now my name is on this trophy – and I can say I've completed the Triple Crown. 'Since I started on the Tour and got my Tour card I've always said to myself, 'as long as I win one of every major I'll be happy.' 'I've only got a few left to tick off and I'll definitely chase the majors I haven't won yet.' Littler had to mount another comeback 24 hours after losing the first five legs of his semi-final to Northern Ireland's Josh Rock. Wade stormed into a 5-0 lead but did not have a single dart at a double in the second mini-session as Littler levelled in style. The 42-year-old left-hander produced an 11-darter in the next, but Littler responded by winning successive legs to lead for the first time at 7-6. Wade managed to keep in touch, helped by a bull finish in the 19th leg, and fought back from a double break down to cut the gap to just one at 14-13. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content But Littler pulled away and crossed the line in style with a 115 out shot (20-57-38), the biggest finish of the match. 'A little bit,' Littler said when asked if he had felt in control. 'Five-nil down once again, I said, 'I've been here before, what are you doing?' 'But I managed to pull it out of the bag and win the next five. I've shown I can come back from 5-0 or 7-3 down. 'I'm happy I can pull myself out of these scorelines, but I don't want to be 5-0 down again. 'James started to drop off a bit and I started to find my best darts.' By winning the title 18-year-old Littler became the youngest champion in Matchplay history, six years younger than Wade when he lifted the title.
Irish Examiner
13 hours ago
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Luke Littler beats James Wade to win first World Matchplay crown in Blackpool
Luke Littler won his first World Matchplay crown as James Wade's remarkable run in Blackpool fell at the final hurdle. Littler claimed a hard-fought 18-13 victory at the Winter Gardens to become the fifth player to win the PDC Triple Crown – Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Luke Humphries having also won World Championship, Matchplay and Premier League titles. Wade was in his seventh Matchplay final 18 years on from his solitary success in 2007, which came six months after Littler was born. Luke Littler is the new king of the Winter Gardens! 👑 The 18-year-old produces another spectacular performance to become the youngest champion in the history of the Betfred World Matchplay! 👏 — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 27, 2025 Littler's scoring power in a high-quality contest proved decisive – he hit 17 180s to Wade's six in averaging 107 – and set a new tournament record of 64 maximums, beating Adrian Lewis' previous best of 56. 'It means absolutely everything,' Littler told Sky Sports after winning the last four legs to hold the Phil Taylor Trophy aloft. 'I idolise Phil, he's come here 16 times and won it. Now my name is on this trophy – and I can say I've completed the Triple Crown. 'Since I started on the Tour and got my Tour card I've always said to myself, 'as long as I win one of every major I'll be happy.' Now my name is on this trophy – and I can say I've completed the Triple Crown 'I've only got a few left to tick off and I'll definitely chase the majors I haven't won yet.' Littler had to mount another comeback 24 hours after losing the first five legs of his semi-final to Northern Ireland's Josh Rock. Wade stormed into a 5-0 lead but did not have a single dart at a double in the second mini-session as Littler levelled in style. The 42-year-old left-hander produced an 11-darter in the next, but Littler responded by winning successive legs to lead for the first time at 7-6. Wade managed to keep in touch, helped by a bull finish in the 19th leg, and fought back from a double break down to cut the gap to just one at 14-13. LITTLER REIGNS AT THE WINTER GARDENS! ☢️ LUKE LITTLER IS THE 2025 WORLD MATCHPLAY CHAMPION! The World Champion produces a sensational display to defeat James Wade 18-13 and lift the Phil Taylor Trophy for the first time! 👏#MatchplayDarts | Final — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 27, 2025 But Littler pulled away and crossed the line in style with a 115 out shot (20-57-38), the biggest finish of the match. 'A little bit,' Littler said when asked if he had felt in control. 'Five-nil down once again, I said, 'I've been here before, what are you doing?' 'But I managed to pull it out of the bag and win the next five. I've shown I can come back from 5-0 or 7-3 down. 'I'm happy I can pull myself out of these scorelines, but I don't want to be 5-0 down again. 'James started to drop off a bit and I started to find my best darts.' By winning the title 18-year-old Littler became the youngest ever champion in Matchplay history, six years younger than Wade when he lifted the title.
RTÉ News
13 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Luke Littler beats James Wade to claim first World Matchplay title
Luke Littler won his first World Matchplay crown as James Wade's remarkable run in Blackpool fell at the final hurdle. Littler claimed a hard-fought 18-13 victory at the Winter Gardens to become the fifth player to win the PDC Triple Crown - Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Luke Humphries having also won World Championship, Matchplay and Premier League titles. Wade was in his seventh Matchplay final 18 years on from his solitary success in 2007, which came six months after Littler was born. Littler's scoring power in a high-quality contest proved decisive - he hit 17 180s to Wade's six in averaging 107 - and set a new tournament record of 64 maximums, beating Adrian Lewis' previous best of 56. "It means absolutely everything," Littler told Sky Sports after winning the last four legs to hold the Phil Taylor Trophy aloft. "I idolise Phil, he's come here 16 times and won it. Now my name is on this trophy - and I can say I've completed the Triple Crown. "Since I started on the Tour and got my Tour card I've always said to myself, 'as long as I win one of every major I'll be happy.' "I've only got a few left to tick off and I'll definitely chase the majors I haven't won yet." Littler had to mount another comeback 24 hours after losing the first five legs of his semi-final to Antrim native Josh Rock. Wade stormed into a 5-0 lead but did not have a single dart at a double in the second mini-session as Littler levelled in style. The 42-year-old left-hander produced an 11-darter in the next, but Littler responded by winning successive legs to lead for the first time at 7-6. Wade managed to keep in touch, helped by a bull finish in the 19th leg, and fought back from a double break down to cut the gap to just one at 14-13. But Littler pulled away and crossed the line in style with a 115 out shot (20-57-38), the biggest finish of the match. "A little bit," Littler said when asked if he had felt in control. "Five-nil down once again, I said, 'I've been here before, what are you doing?' "But I managed to pull it out of the bag and win the next five. I've shown I can come back from 5-0 or 7-3 down. "I'm happy I can pull myself out of these scorelines, but I don't want to be 5-0 down again. "James started to drop off a bit and I started to find my best darts." By winning the title 18-year-old Littler became the youngest ever champion in Matchplay history, six years younger than Wade when he lifted the title.
