LUKE LITTLER showed why he is the world No.1 darts thrower as he retained the Grand Slam of Darts title in style.
Earlier this afternoon, Littler, 18, smashed Dutchman Danny Noppert 16-9 to reach the final and confirm his elevation to the top of the world rankings, leapfrogging Luke Humphries.
And tonight he crushed rival Humphries 16-11 to win the £150,000 pot and retain the Eric Bristow Trophy in Wolverhampton.
This is the first major TV darts title he has managed to defend and was the perfect way to end one of the best days of his young life.
Many have said, especially since he lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy on January 3, that he is the best player on the planet even if the world list has not reflected that.
Yet he has officially confirmed that status by moving to the world No.1 spot on Monday morning with more than £1.7million of ranking prize money in his bank account.
‘WANNA RUIN US’
Littler reveals his and girlfriend Faith’s struggles with online hate
Littler, the youngest world No.1 in history, underlined his superiority in the sport with outstanding checkouts of 167 and 160 in the showdown in the Black Country.
Humphries, 30, kissed and hugged Littler on stage and congratulated him at the end of the tournament.
Littler posed for photos on stage and kissed his girlfriend Faith in a loving embrace with the trophy in his hands.
The Warrington teenager said: “I’ve got to say it was a tough job getting up this morning.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
“No-one likes playing in the afternoon. But you have got to get through those games. Once I got over the line, I knew I was no.1.
“I focused on the final. I said to him, it was a weird, weird game. But I am glad to win, back-to-back.
“It was always going to be close. Phil Taylor used to say, do the hard work and then relax going into the final.”
Luke Littler’s new figure in the world rankings is £1,850,500
Humphries – who had considered pulling out of the tournament a few days ago after suffering a back spasm and struggling to lift his head off the pillow – was crestfallen that he had lost another final and can no longer call himself the world No.1.
The 2024 world champion will be on the other side of the PDC World Darts Championship field – the draw for that will be on November 24 draw – and he vowed to win the title back.
Cool Hand Luke, 30, said: “That’s three finals on the trot I’ve lost.
“I’m ready for the Worlds. I’m going to win the Worlds. He can have world No.1 for seven weeks.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
FRESH BLOW
Celtic star stretchered off in international tie as Hoops hit with injury scare
SUB-ZERO CHILL
Scotland gripped by bone-chilling -7C plunge as snow hits MORE areas in days
“I’m playing good. Tiredness crept in. We are going to go to war, the world championship, me and him in the final. We will see who is world No.1 there.
“He deserves everything he gets. He has been a massive advocate for darts.”
