Luke Littler wins Grand Slam of Darts and secures world number one spot

Luke Littler celebrated becoming world number one for the first time by beating Luke Humphries, the man he has surpassed, to win the Grand Slam of Darts with a 16-11 victory in Wolverhampton.

The world champion’s 16-9 victory over the Netherlands’ Danny Noppert in the semi-final meant he would overtake Humphries to top the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) world rankings regardless of the result of Sunday evening’s final.

But Littler emphasised his ascension to the world darts summit as he surged to victory by winning 10 of the last 13 legs against his great rival to retain the title – and stay unbeaten in the Grand Slam.

At just 18, Littler is the youngest PDC world number one, surpassing Michael van Gerwen, who achieved the feat aged 24 in 2014.

The final ebbed and flowed, with Littler quickly going 2-0 up before Humphries won four on the spin to lead 4-2.

Humphries retained the edge until a brilliant 167 checkout saw ‘The Nuke’ break back for 8-8.

The decisive moment came with Littler leading 10-9 when Humphries, well in control of the leg, chose to go for a 170 out, missed and then fluffed his set-up on his next visit.

That gave Littler a glimmer of hope with a 160 finish. He made no mistake to go 11-9 up and never looked back.

Littler’s earnings over the two-year period that determine the Order of Merit totalled £1,770,500 after making the final, with his victory taking it up to £1,850,000.

As Humphries was defending the money he won from triumphing in this tournament in 2023, even if had he lifted the trophy again, he would have earned £1,769,000 – just short of his fellow Englishman.

“It is has not even been two years that I’ve been on the tour and I’m already world number one,” Littler told Sky Sports after winning the semi-final.

“That is job done – I am world number one – but there is a bigger match tonight.

“I am the best in the world. No matter what, I’ve said it throughout the year that Luke Humphries is the best in the world.

“No matter if you go out in the first, second or third round you are the best in the world.”