
Luke Littler told get off your a**e by James Wade as The Nuke falls short as a film critic
Dozy Luke Littler is ready to swing hard for a Triple Crown having fallen asleep while watching Happy Gilmore 2.
The Nuke will meet James Wade in tonight's Final as he aims to replace The Machine as the youngest-ever winner of the Betfred World Matchplay.
LIttler has been in relaxed mood all week in Blackpool and so comfortable that he ended up having a nap when trying to catch the new comedy golf movie.
Asked for a quick film review, he said: 'I fell asleep 20 minutes in. That was before the game against Andrew Gilding. I didn't have much sleep, so I slept through the day and missed it.'
Littler has been wide awake on the stage, however, with his magical work culminating in a nine-darter during an epic semi-final success over Josh Rock.
Both he and his Northern Irish pal were on the 141 finish after six perfect darts each to start leg eight, but The Nuke didn't even give his mate a shot at it as he pinned the finale.
Michael van Gerwen missed double 12 after eight perfect darts before Michael Smith hit the finish in what was previously dubbed darts' greatest-ever leg.
But no shot was missed in the Littler/Rock leg and he said: 'I think it is the greatest. All of them trebles and the double was perfect.'
While it's Littler's first Matchplay Final, it will be a seventh for The Machine who was in one before the superkid was born and secured the title in 2007 when The Nuke was less than one year old.
The pair warmed together before their semis as Littler amusingly revealed: 'We practised. Done a little 121 to 170 check-outs. He literally told me: Get up off your a**e and practise with me, 121! I went: Alright, okay James! We talk a little bit backstage, but I'm sure we'll both be focused.
'I've still got the win over him there [UK Open Final], so I know the feeling of getting a major win over him. 'But he's been here plenty of times, he's experienced, whatever happens on a day, the better player will win and I'm sure it'll be a good game. 2007? I was only just born. But yeah, I've got plenty of time to think about it and try and pick up the trophy. But now I'm here, now I'm in the final, it's obviously all eyes on that trophy.
'The experienced guys, they're still here, they've got the experience there, but for myself I've got a lot of experience of picking up the World Championship and I think I've settled into almost every competition that I walk into. I'm sure it'll be a great game.
'Like I said, it goes to show how these experienced boys, they're still hanging around, they're still plodding along. James, he's one of the very best. But obviously, I've come along, I've done what I've done and all eyes on the Final. I've been relaxed all week long. There's no need to start putting pressure on myself, saying you've got to win this, you've got to do this. If it comes, it comes, if it happens, it happens, if it doesn't, it doesn't. So far it's been good, but for myself it all lies on tomorrow.
'It's going to be special either way. It's been a long time since I picked up a trophy, winner or runner-up. Win or lose, just take it on the chin. Obviously I want to get the win, I won't be putting pressure on myself. The Triple Crown's there to be won and we'll just see how it goes.'
Littler had a burst against Rock which was jaw-dropping as he fought back from 6-1 down and he admitted: 'I'm going out in 11, 12, maybe even 13 each leg. Obviously you feel unbeatable in the moment and for myself, as soon as that first treble of 20 lands right on top of the bottom wire, it's just perfect because you know as a player most of the time you're going to fill it up.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
a few seconds ago
- Daily Mirror
Luke Littler shows true feelings with four-word statement after winning Phil Taylor Trophy
The teenage sensation won his first World Matchplay crown to end James Wade's wonderful run to the final in Blackpool, claiming a hard-fought 18-13 victory to become the fifth player to win the PDC Triple Crown Luke Littler won his first World Matchplay crown as James Wade's remarkable run in Blackpool fell at the final hurdle and declared: "It means absolutely everything!" 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 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. 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.


The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
World Matchplay Darts 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Luke Littler BEATS James Wade and makes HISTORY to take home title
LUKE Littler has WON the World Matchplay in Blackpool - and has made HISTORY in the process! Teenage sensation Luke Littler made history by becoming the youngest triple crown winner ever, winning the World Championship, Premier League Darts and now World Matchplay. James Wade featured in his SEVENTH World Matchplay final against him, but was unable to stop the continuous rise of Luke Littler at the Winter Gardens. Llast year's champion Luke Humphries suffered a SHOCK first round exit against Gian van Veen, with his English teammate Littler taking the title from him.


Metro
6 hours ago
- Metro
Luke Littler eyes mammoth Phil Taylor record after historic World Matchplay win
Luke Littler is not ruling out breaking Phil Taylor's monumental record in the World Matchplay after winning the event for the first time on Sunday night. The 18-yaer-old turned in a stunning performance to beat James Wade 18-13 in a brilliant final in Blackpool. The world champion finished the match with a blistering average of 107.24, throwing 17 180s over the piece. Wade enjoyed the dream start to the match, racing into a 5-0 lead, and played beautifully for most of the contest, incredibly averaging 101.54 over 31 frames and still losing. Littler was in untouchable form, though, and expects to be for a long time to come as he is already having a look at Taylor's absurd record of 16 World Matchplay titles. The Power made the Blackpool event his own, so much so that the trophy is named after the legend of the oche, and it was stirring for the Nuke to get his hands on it for the first time. 'It means everything,' he said. 'Obviously he came here on his last Matchplay and picked up the trophy. To win it 16 times, Phil was the player he was, but just to get my name on the trophy means a lot.' On his chances of reaching 16 titles himself, Littler added: 'That's the only thing, its carrying on for that amount of time, but maybe in the next 16 times I might have broken it. I might come back every year and just win it! 'I want to conquer everything in this sport and I've ticked this one off tonight. I want to win one of everything and we'll see what happens from there.' Littler has given himself a target of ticking off every major PDC title once and few would doubt that he can achieve that, but what would come next? 'That's what everyone's probably thinking, what do I do after I've won one of everything,' he said. 'But for myself, just build on it, get multiple of everything. get triple of everything. But yeah, once I win one of everything I won't pack it in just yet.' When the dream becomes a reality❤️ means the world to have my hands on the Phil Taylor trophy and complete the triple crown🏆 — Luke Littler (@LukeTheNuke180) July 27, 2025 The teenager is not short of targets and before 16 World Matchplays and one of every title, he is eyeing up the world number one spot, which he is yet to claim in his career. Despite Littler's incredible success so far in his career, Luke Humphries has held onto the top spot in the rankings, but the Nuke knows he could usurp him by the end of the year. 'Obviously I've looked at the rankings, provisional world number one for the Worlds, if Luke doesn't defend all that prize money,' he said. 'Obviously I don't want him to, I'd love to be world number one.' Littler landed a record 64 180s in his World Matchplay campaign, beating the previous high watermark of 56 set by Adrian Lewis in 2013. More Trending It was a stunning string of performances from the world number two, including a nine-darter against Josh Rock in the semi-finals. Wade also enjoyed a fabulous tournament, returning to the Blackpool final for the first time since 2015, remarkably his seventh Matchplay showpiece. His run was ended in the final by Littler, just as it was at the UK Open this season, but his performance was massively better on Sunday than it was in Minehead, when he was brushed aside 11-2. MORE: Luke Littler names darts rival with best mentality in the sport MORE: Signing Viktor Gyokeres makes it a win-or-bust season for Mikel Arteta at Arsenal MORE: Alexander Isak odds: Would Newcastle really sell their star striker to Arsenal or Liverpool?