UK Open Darts Tournament Recap: Luke Littler Wins Title

Image credits: Sky Sports

The UK Open darts tournament has come to a close, with Luke Littler emerging as the champion. The 18-year-old won the title by defeating James Wade 11-2 in the final, claiming the £110,000 first prize. Littler's victory was spurred on by Manchester United's FA Cup exit, which he found out about during his semi-final match against Jonny Clayton. The teenager responded by winning six of the next seven legs to topple Clayton 11-6 and reach the final.

Littler's dominant performance in the final saw him win each of the first nine legs against Wade, eventually dropping only two legs in a convincing victory. He hit nine 180s and averaged 101.51, boasting a tournament average of 104.35 across his six matches. Wade, who had been looking to win the UK Open for a fourth time, admitted that Littler "blew him away" and was the "far superior player". The UK Open is known for its unique format, which pits amateurs against professionals in a completely open draw, making it a thrilling event for fans and players alike.

The tournament, often referred to as the "FA Cup of darts", saw a number of surprises and upsets throughout the competition. However, the later stages largely followed the form book, with six of the eight quarter-finalists being former major winners. The event was held in Minehead, Somerset, and featured a number of top players, including Luke Humphries, who is currently ranked as the best in the world. The darts community came together to celebrate the sport, with fans and players alike enjoying the intimate setting and electric atmosphere of the tournament.

Here are the match scores from the final:

• Littler vs Wade: 11-2
• Littler vs Clayton: 11-6

The UK Open is one of the most prestigious events in the darts calendar, and Littler's victory is a significant milestone in his career. He will now look to defend his Premier League crown over the coming months, with the tournament continuing with Night Five in Brighton on Thursday. The prestige of the UK Open title is a testament to the growing popularity of darts, which continues to attract new fans and players from around the world.

The UK Open darts tournament has a rich history, dating back to its inception in 1994. The event has been won by some of the biggest names in darts, including Phil Taylor, who holds the record for the most UK Open titles with five wins. The tournament is known for its unique format, which features a completely open draw, with no seedings to protect the top players. This makes for a thrilling competition, with amateurs and professionals competing against each other in a bid to win the coveted title. The tournament schedule is as follows:

1. Round 1: 128 players compete in a knockout format
2. Round 2: 64 players compete in a knockout format
3. Round 3: 32 players compete in a knockout format
4. Quarter-finals: 8 players compete in a knockout format
5. Semi-finals: 4 players compete in a knockout format
6. Final: 2 players compete in a knockout format

The tournament has a number of notable players, including:

• Luke Humphries: currently ranked as the best in the world
• Luke Littler: winner of the 2025 UK Open
• James Wade: three-time former UK Open champion
• Jonny Clayton: semi-finalist in the 2025 UK Open

The player statistics are as follows:

• Littler: 9 180s, 101.51 average
• Wade: 2 180s, 94.45 average
• Clayton: 4 180s, 98.12 average

The team rankings are as follows:

1. Luke Humphries: 1st
2. Luke Littler: 2nd
3. James Wade: 3rd

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