Luke Littler vs Luke Humphries LIVE: Teenage sensation slips to defeat in World Darts Championship final

Luke Littler’s remarkable run ended without a fairytale finish as the new world No 1 triumphed

Luke Littler says he is yet to face 'anything difficult' as 16-year-old reaches World Darts Championship final

Teenage superstar Luke Littler had his dream ending of winning a world title taken away by the impressive performance of new World No. 1 Luke Humphries who came from behind to win the World Darts Championship in a thrilling finale at Alexandra Palace.

Littler, seemingly unfazed by the occasion, started poorly with the darts in the opening set as Humphries slipped seamlessly into his rhythm. He broke the teenagers throw and went on the claim the set in quick fashion. Littler responded after the break with two 100+ finishes to get back on level terms.

Humphries took the third set and Littler the fourth with neither player managing to hold their throw in these early stages. It was the fifth set that saw Littler begin to tick in his, now almost trademark fashion. He hunted down the treble 20s and finished off his checkouts with verve as Humphries began to flounder. The 16-year-old took three sets in a row to open up a lead of two.

The final then swung definitively. Humphries upped his level as Littler’s dipped. The 28-year-old banging in the 180s with gusto and clinching enough doubles under pressure to keep the teenager at bay. When Humphries retook the lead from a break of throw the momentum was firmly in his corner and a hold of throw moved him within one set of victory.

Littler never wilted, he was out thrown. Constant pressure made Humphries work for his victory but a firm showing in the final set saw him win the deciding leg with a double 16 finish and lift the World Championship trophy for the first time.

Relive all the action below, and get the latest darts betting site offers here:

World Darts Championship final LIVE

• Luke Humphries triumphs over Luke Littler winning darts final 7-4
• Teenager Luke Littler defeated by Luke Humphries in the World Darts Championship final
• 16-year-old Littler took the event by storm but failed at the last hurlde for historic debut triumph

[3 January 2024 22:34 · Mike Jones]

Pinned

Teenage star Luke Littler beaten by world No 1 Luke Humphries in World Darts Championship final

Never will so few words be written about a world champion, which is unfair on Luke Humphries, the deserving new king of darts. He is now the world No 1 and, aged 28, has produced the most remarkable of breakout seasons, winning three major titles including this world championship, the biggest prize in the sport.

And yet even in victory – a brilliant victory in which Humphries located an unbeatable level in the latter half to blow his opponent away – he was upstaged by a 16-year-old boy.

Luke Littler started nervously but he came to life in the second set, and when he went 4-2 ahead in a race to seven, Alexandra Palace expected him to go all the way. Instead Littler’s level dipped and Humphries’ play transformed. He began thudding 180s for fun, rattling off five successive sets to win 7-4.

[3 January 2024 23:04 · Mike Jones]

Who is Luke Humphries? The new world champion who beat darts prodigy Luke Littler

The world is talking about Luke Littler, the 16-year-old darts prodigy who smashed his way to final of the World Darts Championship. But there he was beaten by the impressive new world No 1 and world champion, Luke Humphries.

Humphries was among the favourites coming into the tournament after a stellar year which included three titles – the World Grand Prix, the Players Championship Finals and the Grand Slam of Darts – along with a big rise up the rankings, and his run to this final ensured he jumps to the top after the tournament.

Nicknamed ‘Cool Hand Luke’ – a riff on the 1967 prison-drama film of the same name – Humphries is a calm, understated figure, which has led to accusations from some quarters that he lacks the domineering personality to take over the darts world.

[3 January 2024 23:00 · Mike Jones]

Luke Littler, 16, collects trophy after finishing runner-up in World Darts Championship

Watch the moment 16-year-old Luke Littler collects his trophy after finishing runner-up in the World Darts Championship. The teenage sensation came up just short against Luke Humphries, who won 7-4 in the showpiece event.

Despite seeing his fairytale run end in heartbreak, Littler will leave Alexandra Palace with memories that will last a lifetime, having beaten Raymond van Barneveld, Brendan Dolan and Rob Cross en route to the final.

[3 January 2024 22:44 · Mike Jones]

Littler in the Premier League?

The new world champion, Luke Humphries, believes 16-year-old Luke Littler should be heading for a Premier League debut later this month.

“I’m not just saying this because it will please everyone, but Luke has been an unbelievable talent,” Humphries said after his World Championship win.

“Not just about the dartboard, he has been fantastic with all the media that has come about with him and he took the defeat so well. He said go on and celebrate. You will never see never down to a 16 year old kid like him who is just something else.

“I really hope he’s in the Premier League because, if he don’t want to play in it fair enough, but I think he’d be a pleasure to play alongside him this year.

“He’s one of the best players in the world, there is no doubt about that.”

[3 January 2024 22:40 · Mike Jones]

More from Luke Humphries

Luke Humphries, speaking to Sky Sports after his victory: “I’ll draw a lot from this and this will be a moment that will never be forgotten.

“I don’t want to say that I’ve completed darts but everything that you want the resume I’ve done now, so now it’s now about motivating yourself to do more and more.

“Now I want to be double world champion and win loads of majors.”

[3 January 2024 22:29 · Mike Jones]

Reaction from Luke Littler

Luke Littler, speaking to Sky Sports:

“It has been unbelievable. The one negative was I lost too many legs with my throw so Luke could break me. That was the only negative, I just couldn’t hold my own throw and I didn’t win.

“Every game has been good but that one has just really annoyed me, especially the three missed to keep it going. That’s what the crowd wanted but fair play to Luke, he deserves it.”

[3 January 2024 22:16 · Mike Jones]

Luke Humphries defeats Luke Littler 7-4 in World Darts Championship final

Luke Humphries gave his reaction to Sky Sports after his exceptional victory: “I cannot put into words how great this feels!

“In the back of my mind throughout today I was thinking ‘get this one now because he [Littler] is going to dominate world darts soon!’

“He’s an incredible player and when I was on the brink of winning he was so relentless. I was really proud of the performance there. He’s an incredible talent and I had to win this one tonight and he’s going to win plenty I’m sure.”

[3 January 2024 22:13 · Mike Jones]

Luke Humphries defeats Luke Littler 7-4 in World Darts Championship final

(AP)

(AP)

[3 January 2024 22:08 · Mike Jones]

Luke Humphries defeats Luke Littler 7-4 in World Darts Championship final

Luke Humphries has a huge smile on his face as he is announced as the new world champion.

The crowd, very much in support of Luke Littler, give him a deserved and warm reception as he hoists the Sid Waddell trophy aloft.

This victory caps off an amazing three months for Humphries. He’s won the World Grand Prix, the Grand Slam, the Players Championship and now the World Championship.

What a journey for the 28-year-old.

[3 January 2024 22:06 · Mike Jones]

Luke Humphries defeats Luke Littler 7-4 in World Darts Championship final

What a match, what a final, what a tournament.

Luke Humphries gets the job done having won five sets in a row against the incredible 16-year-old sensation Luke Littler. The teenager is keeping things together well. He was a wonderful competitor who took the darts world by storm over the last three weeks.

The crowd chant for him as he collects his runners-up trophy.