
Luke Littler says practice made perfect after World Matchplay success
Next up on the PDC schedule is a trip Down Under for the back-to-back Australia and New Zealand Darts Masters in August, before attention turns towards the end-of-year run-in.
World Darts Championship 🏆World Matchplay 🏆Premier League 🏆UK Open 🏆Grand Slam of Darts 🏆World Series of Darts Finals 🏆
Luke Littler adds another Premier TV title to his ever-growing haul! ☢️ pic.twitter.com/dwhtaTgc3N
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 27, 2025
'What I have achieved so far is unbelievable for myself,' Littler told the PA news agency.
'I didn't expect it to go my way, but it is just all down to me practising and playing really good darts.
'The Matchplay win was just so good. I practised quite a lot leading up to it, the most I had done in some time – and it certainly paid off as I completed the Triple Crown.'
Littler knows every success then raises the level of expectation on his young shoulders.
When the dream becomes a reality❤️ means the world to have my hands on the Phil Taylor trophy and complete the triple crown🏆 pic.twitter.com/qwZxtzRtFt
— Luke Littler (@LukeTheNuke180) July 27, 2025
'If you come into a tournament and you are the champion, I think people can expect you to try and defend it, because you have been there before and you have won it before, but that is not always the case,' the world number two said.
'Even this year with the Premier League, it was not easy trying to defend it – and on the night (of the final) Luke Humphries played his best darts and won it.
'But leading up to the Grand Slam (of Darts, in November), I want to defend that and also try to pick up some more titles along the way.'
Littler added: 'Ever since my first World Championships, where I was runner-up and started on the (PDC) Tour, I think everyone just wanted to beat me.
'It is still the same now because these players want to be the best and have always wanted to beat me, but most of the time I do come out victorious.'
The 18-year-old's achievements have transcended the sport – helping darts reach to a new audience and a younger generation.
'For what I have done, it has definitely spurred a lot of people on to get into their darts,' Littler said.
'But for myself, I have got to keep winning, keep picking up trophies and get even more people involved.'
Littler has teamed up with KP Snacks 'Nuts for Darts' campaign, which will see one pub win an appearance from the world champion.
'There are so many pub leagues that I played in when I was younger, this is where game of darts has come from,' he said.
'That is where I started and where most of these big top players started is in pubs, so this is about giving those pubs an opportunity for an appearance from me.'
:: KP Nuts are giving one lucky pub the chance to win an appearance from Luke Littler as part of the 'Nuts for Darts' campaign. Rally your landlord to pick up a promotional pub card to enter from August 11.
Hashtags

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


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Fake sick notes, lying wives, tantrums, intimidation and massive paydays: Exposed - the murky world of footballers trying to force a move, why clubs are powerless and how to spot a 'transfer terrorist'
It's pre-season training at a big Premier League club a year ago. The sun is shining, players are laughing as they relive antics from the beach. Coaching staff are putting the final touches to their preparations. Optimism fills the air - with one exception. Within the ranks of suntanned and toned players is what, within football, is known as a 'transfer terrorist'.

Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
I'm four weeks away – Tom Lockyer reveals he is closing in on football return
Lockyer has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest during Luton's Premier League game against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in December 2023. The 30-year-old Wales defender had previously collapsed on the field just seven months earlier during the Hatters' Sky Bet Championship play-off final win at Wembley against Coventry. A post shared by Sky Sports Football (@skysportsfootball) Lockyer, speaking ahead of Luton's opening Sky Bet League One fixture against AFC Wimbledon at Kenilworth Road, told Sky Sports: 'I haven't had a break, I've been working all the way through, just trying to get this ankle right and trying to get fit. 'But I've had a really good few weeks and hopefully now I'm four weeks away from getting signed off and told I'm allowed to play football again.' Luton, relegated in May for the second successive season, told Lockyer his contract would not be renewed when it expired this summer. But they have allowed him to use their facilities and work with their physios and medical staff during his rehabilitation. The former Bristol Rovers centre-back, who led Luton to Premier League promotion in 2023, added: 'They've been fantastic and have allowed me to come in and use the facilities and the knowledge of all the physios, so I can't thank them enough for that. 'It allows me to stay among the team spirit – there's a good one here. There's been a few changes, but they're trying to hold on to that ethos that no-one is bigger than the team and I absolutely love that. 'It's allowed me to go in every day, still be around it, still feel involved and I'm just itching to get back now.' Lockyer, who has had a defibrillator fitted similar to former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen, snapped an ankle ligament during his return to full fitness, which required two operations.


Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Matt Bloomfield believes it was about time Luton had some luck
Back-to-back relegations had left the Hatters – who were a Premier League side 15 months ago – playing in the third tier for the first time since 2019 but after dropping out of the Championship in May their fortunes took a turn for the better when the Dons defender headed the ball over goalkeeper Nathan Bishop and in off the crossbar with five minutes to play. It was cruel on Wimbledon who had limited the hosts to a single shot on target until that point as they coped admirably with the step up after winning the League Two play-off final. Bloomfield, who took over in January but despite a strong finish to the campaign was unable to save the team from the drop, was asked whether he felt his side deserved their late good fortune. 'Yes,' he said. 'We feel like there's certain things that have gone against us over the last period of time. 'One thing you can't do is whine about it. All you can do is get on with your work, and you have to be grateful when the gods shine on you and give you a little bit of fortune. 'There were only two teams in the last 10 league games (last season) that got more points than us – Burnley and Leeds. 'But after being relegated you can't expect that everything's going to be looked on smoothly with sunshine and smiles.' Prior to the late winner, defender Reuell Walters had had Luton's only attempt on target in the 63rd minute, drawing an excellent save from Bishop with a half-volley struck from range. 'Relived and pleased to get the win,' added Bloomfield. 'Pleased with elements of the performance – the togetherness, the unity within the group. 'Frustration that we didn't create more clearcut opportunities and look more threatening. But pleased to get off to a winning start. 'We can't expect to click our fingers and get to the final product overnight. There's been a definite change of identity which we saw on show tonight. 'We're an evolving group, we're a new group. Now it's about getting better every week and keep working to where we want to get to.' Dons boss Johnnie Jackson, whose team were playing in the third tier for the first time since 2022, said: 'I'm gutted for my players and supporters. To lose the game in that manner was cruel. 'It's a fortunate goal from their point of view. They made us defend that situation, caught us in that position but that rarely happened to my team all night. I thought we defended brilliantly. 'To lose it on an own goal on the side of the bar is a hard one to take.'