Teenage Darts Sensation Luke Littler Claims Maiden Players Championship Crown
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old world number one, secured his first Players Championship Finals title with a hard-fought 11-8 victory over Nathan Aspinall in Minehead on Sunday. This triumph adds another major honour to his rapidly growing collection, coming just a week after he overtook Luke Humphries to claim the top spot in the world rankings following his Grand Slam of Darts win.
A Hard-Fought Final
The final saw Littler storm into an early 5-2 lead, demonstrating the form that has made him the sport's dominant force. However, Aspinall refused to capitulate, mounting a brilliant fightback that included a spectacular 127 checkout. The match tightened considerably, with Aspinall closing the gap to trail by just a single leg at 9-8, putting the title in the balance.
Under immense pressure, Littler remained composed. He held his nerve to hit a crucial checkout of 88, sealing the victory and the prestigious Minehead crown. The win means only the World Masters and European Championship are now missing from his set of major televised titles.
Littler's Route to Glory
Littler's path to the final was impressive. He first secured a 10-5 quarter-final win over Chris Dobey, producing a stunning match average of almost 108 and hitting nine maximums. His semi-final against Gerwyn Price was a tense affair. After building a 5-2 lead, Price fought back to 7-6 before Littler eventually took control, finishing with a 108.48 average to book his place in the final with an 11-8 win.
On the other side of the draw, Nathan Aspinall earned his spot with a dominant 11-2 semi-final victory over Jermaine Wattimena, which included a superb 10-dart leg.
Looking Ahead to Alexandra Palace
This victory marks Littler's sixth televised ranking title of the year, a phenomenal achievement for the teenager. Speaking to ITV after his win, Littler said, "It wasn't easy... I'm very proud to get this one ticked off the list. Now there's only two more to go." He praised Aspinall's performance but stated he had to "dig in at the end."
With this trophy secured, Littler's focus now shifts to next month's World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace. He added, "Early on in my career I was just being myself, but now I'm starting to let out a bit more emotion... Glad I've got this and now we look on to next month."
In other news from the event, Gian van Veen successfully defended his World Youth Championship title with a 6-3 win over Beau Greaves.
