World Grand Prix darts: Luke Littler thrashes Luke Humphries 6-1 to assert one other TV main title and shut on world No 1 spot in Leicester

Luke Littler secured a maiden Boyle Sports activities World Grand Prix title and moved nearer to the world No 1 spot after an announcement 6-1 victory over Luke Humphries in Leicester.

The world’s prime two renewed their rivalry after setting the dream closing on the Mattioli Enviornment, the place Littler gained the primary two units in final-leg deciders and agonisingly missed the bullseye for a nine-dart leg instantly after the break.

Littler closed out the third and fourth units in final-leg deciders however Humphries diminished the deficit by taking the fifth set with a 154 checkout, earlier than the 18-year-old gained the following two to finish an emphatic victory.

The newest TV main success for Littler follows wins on the World Championship, UK Open and World Matchplay throughout one other spectacular marketing campaign, whereas 2023 champion Humphries – who edged Littler 93.61 to 92.15 within the averages – completed runner-up for the second successive yr.

Littler’s victory additionally sees him shut inside £70,000 of Humphries within the PDC Order of Benefit, rising the potential of him transferring prime of the world rankings earlier than his World Championship title defence this December.

“[£70,000] is not a lot of prize money, given what us guys play for,” Littler advised Sky Sports activities about his pursuit of world No 1. “Luke [Humphries] will know I’m behind his back now and I’m on to him.”

How Littler secured assertion Leicester title

Littler opened with a 16-dart maintain however took a staggering 13 darts to get began within the subsequent, then responded to Humphries’ 13-dart break by breaking again with a 66 end and snatching the set in a final-leg decider.

The Nuke capitalised on missed doubles from Humphries to win the primary two legs of the second, the place Humphries posted 13 and 11-dart legs earlier than Littler delivered a 64 checkout to maneuver right into a two-set benefit.

Littler fired eight good darts throughout the opening leg of the third, lacking the bullseye in pursuit of delivering simply the fourth nine-darter within the event’s historical past, then recovered from losing two set darts to seal the set with a 104 end.

A shellshocked Humphries replied to Littler beginning the fourth with a 116 end by nailing 149 and 110 checkouts in successive legs, dragging the set to a different closing leg from 2-0 down, however Littler pinned D10 within the decider to maneuver 4 clear.

Humphries’ persistence noticed him reel off 4 straight legs, elevating his arms aloft after taking out a 154 checkout to win the fifth with a 12-dart break, just for Littler to take out a 90 end within the subsequent and shut out the sixth set with a shocking 11-darter.

A relentless Littler nailed a 98 end and added one other ton-plus outshot to maneuver inside a leg of victory, earlier than a 14-dart maintain – in one other final-leg decider – closed out a seventh totally different main title in lower than two years.

Humphries after Littler thrashing: ‘I’ve to get higher’

Littler’s victory is his second consecutive win over Humphries in a televised closing, having additionally crushed him on the New Zealand Darts Masters this summer time, with the world No 1 admitting he has work to do to maintain up with the brand new World Grand Prix champion.

“He was so clinical in the first four sets,” Humphries advised Sky Sports activities. “When I was 4-0 down I just wanted to give the crowd something. I wasn’t playing for myself, I was playing for the crowd because the game had got away from me.

“It is laborious to take. It is disappointing as a result of I felt I used to be going to present him a greater recreation than I did. I’ve to simply get higher. I’ve to work more durable. If I do not, he’ll stroll away with it on a regular basis.

“I need to work harder than I ever have because I want to match him.”

Littler, who’s now solely three titles away from profitable each PDC premier occasion, advised Sky Sports activities: “Very happy to tick it off. It’s not the easiest tournament to win. This week has been so tough.

“Now I’ve picked the trophy up, it is one I can tick off and there is not many left. I’ve obtained to carry out the large out-shots, the large scores when Luke [Humphries] does put me underneath stress.

“I think I played very well tonight. Luke was always behind me, I couldn’t step off the gas. I’m very happy to win.”

What’s subsequent?

The PDC ProTour continues with Gamers Championship occasions in Wigan on Tuesday and Wednesday, earlier than the German Darts Championship begin on Friday – the ultimate occasion to qualify for the Machineseeker European Championship the next week.

The subsequent TV main reside on Sky Sports activities is the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton from November 8-16, earlier than the World Darts Championship runs from December 11-January on the Alexandra Palace. Stream darts, soccer, golf, cricket and extra contract-free with NOW.