Luke Littler cruised to a maiden Ladbrokes UK Open title after thrashing three-time champion James Wade 11-2 in a one-sided final.
Wade had defeated world No 1 Luke Humphries and Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock on his way to the final at Butlin’s Minehead Resort but was outclassed by the world champion.
Littler – who had seen off Gian van Veen and Jonny Clayton earlier in the day – fired a 101.51 average and nine maximums in a dominant display against Wade, winning each of the first nine legs to grab full control.
Littler’s victory sees him close the gap on Luke Humphries at the top of the PDC Order of Merit
Wade avoided the whitewash by winning a scrappy 10th leg, although Littler quickly closed out victory to claim a 12th PDC title of his remarkable career and close the gap on Humphries at the top of the PDC Order of Merit.
How Littler cruised to UK Open title
Littler immediately took control of the contest by following a 14-dart hold by breaking Wade with a 91 finish in the next, before an 11-darter quickly pulled him into a three-leg advantage.
Littler won the first nine legs to threaten a whitewash
Wade failed to capitalise on wayward finishing during a scrappy fourth leg, where the teenager broke again despite wasting eight darts at a double, with the world champion wrapping up a clean sweep in the first session with a 13-dart hold.
Back-to-back 14-darters and an 11-dart break moved Littler 8-0 up and raised the possibility of the first whitewash ever in a UK Open final, with ‘The Nuke’ capitalising on Wade missing three darts at double to win the next and move within two of victory.
Wade, who appeared to be struggling with a hand injury late in the contest, received huge cheers after securing the 10th leg with a 21-darter, while ‘The Machine’ responded to losing the next leg by taking out an 85 checkout to briefly extend the contest.
That leg from Wade only delayed the inevitable, as Littler burned two match darts at double 12 before closing out the second-biggest UK Open final win in history by securing the match on double six.
Wade: Littler bashed me to bits!
“I played well in the semis, but in the final he just completely gassed me out,” Wade told ITV. “It seems quite strange – I’m the senior darts player and he absolutely bashed me to bits.
“What can you do against that? He was the far superior player, as much as it kills me to admit it, it is what it is. For me, it’s a great step in the right direction. Fair play to him, at the moment he is probably the best or second best in the world comfortably.”
Wade was bidding to win the UK Open for a fourth time and move within one of Phil Taylor’s all-time record
Littler, speaking about his victory, said: “It’s one I’ve wanted to win, it’s my third time here. Last year I made the quarter-finals, and this year I’ve gone two better to win it.
“I had a job to do and just wanted to pick up the trophy. It’s one I can tick off the list now. I’m now looking at the Premier League and making the top four, making sure I do go to the 02. It’s going to be a long few weeks.”
More to follow…
What’s next?
The Premier League continues with Night Five in Brighton on Thursday, where Michael Van Gerwen faces Gerwyn Price in the opening match of the evening ahead of Littler taking on Chris Dobey in the top half of the draw.
Rob Cross meets Humphries before Stephen Bunting plays Nathan Aspinall to round off the quarter-final action. Watch Night Five of the Premier League Darts on Thursday from 7pm, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+.
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