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 16:50 · Mike Jones]

‘A generational talent'

Luke Littler has been lighting up the junior darts competitions for quite a while but it’s been his run at the World Darts Championship this year that has really boosted his profile and plastered his name across the sports pages of the UK newspapers.

The CEO of the PDC Matt Porter spoke to Sky Sports about Littler’s rise to fame and how he believes the 16-year-old is ‘a generational talent’.

Take a look:

[3 January 2024 16:40 · Mike Jones]

How to watch the final on TV

The World Darts Championship final is on Sky Sports’ dedicated Darts channel with coverage beginning at 7.30pm on 3 January. Sky Sports customers can stream the action online via the SkyGo app and website.

If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider.

[3 January 2024 16:30 · Mike Jones]

What time is the World Darts Championship final today?

The final session kicks off at 7.30pm GMT on Wednesday at Alexandra Palace with Luke Littler vs Luke Humphries.

The final is a best-of-13-set marathon and we can expect the two Lukes to take the stage around 8.15pm, but which one will become world champion?

[3 January 2024 16:20 · Mike Jones]

Could playing darts make you smarter?

Luke Littler’s impressive run at the PDC World Darts Championship has stirred up some fresh buzz around the sport.

The 16-year-old became the youngest person ever to reach the final in the iconic contest – and anyone who’s been watching will know there’s a lot of skill involved.

Although impeccably controlled aim may be the key component to winning, darts is all about numbers. Players start with a score of 501 and have to try and get down to zero the quickest, by getting high numbers on the board – but they must end precisely on zero with a double, so there’s a lot of maths and mental gymnastics involved.

It may be a game we often associate with pubs – but could darts actually help us all sharpen our brains and get smarter?

[3 January 2024 16:10 · Mike Jones]

Humphries remembers playing 12-year-old Littler

Tonight’s World Darts championship finalists, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, have met at the oche once before. Humphries took on a then 12-year-old Littler in a local competition back in 2019 and admits that Littler was ‘scarily good’ back then.

Humphries said: “The first time I played with him I think he was 12 and he was scarily good then. It was in a local competition and he missed a 164 to go ahead. I think I took out 64 and 3, see that says a lot that I remember what happened.

“I remember knowing that when you’re a 12-year-old playing that well, there is some talent there.

“A lot of people have come and gone, but he’s showed that he’s the real deal, and regardless of what happens tomorrow he’s got a massive, massive bright future.”

[3 January 2024 16:00 · Mike Jones]

Humphries expecting ‘game of his life'

Speaking on Tuesday evening after his 6-0 victory over Scott Williams, Luke Humphries gave his thoughts on how he thinks today’s World Darts Championship final will play out and whether Luke Littler will be able to rise to the occasion at just 16-years-old.

“Nothing is going to faze him,” Humphries said of Littler. “If he plays like he did tonight, tomorrow is not going to faze him at all, so I will probably have to play the game of my life.

“I know what’s in front of me and what the task is. I’ve got to play at my best tomorrow but I’m hoping I make him play his best as well and we give the fans hopefully one of the best world finals we have ever seen.”

[3 January 2024 15:50 · Mike Jones]

5 sporting teenage prodigies Luke Littler can emulate

5) Gianluigi Donnarumma – 16

AC Milan were in the midst of their decade-long barren spell when Donnarumma was thrust into the first team at the age of 16 in 2015, preferred to the veteran club legend Christian Abbiati and former number one Diego Lopez.

Standing at a height of 6ft 5in, he took up the mantel of first-choice goalkeeper with a stature that defied his young years, and the following year became Italy’s second-youngest ever goalkeeper when he made his international debut in a friendly against France.

He has since helped the team to win Euro 2020 where he saved two penalties in the final shootout against England.

[3 January 2024 15:40 · Mike Jones]

5 sporting teenage prodigies Luke Littler can emulate

4) Cesc Fabregas – 16

Fabregas became Arsenal’s youngest-ever player when he made his first-team debut in a League Cup tie against Rotherham at Highbury in September 2003 and clocked another club record when he scored his first goal in the next round in a 5-1 win over Wolves.

It was the following season though that his true breakthrough arrived, taking up a regular place in the team’s midfield aged 17 at the start of the 2003/04 season as they sought to defend the title won the previous campaign.

He went on to win two league titles with Chelsea as well as the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain.

[3 January 2024 15:30 · Mike Jones]

5 sporting teenage prodigies Luke Littler can emulate

3) Sky Brown – 13

The skateboarder became the UK’s youngest-ever Olympian when she competed at the Tokyo games aged just 13 and followed it up by becoming the country’s youngest medal winner when she took bronze in the women’s park skateboarding event.

She has continued to set records in the years since, most recently by becoming the first British winner at the skateboarding World Championships in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates in February 2023.

[3 January 2024 15:20 · Mike Jones]

5 sporting teenage prodigies Luke Littler can emulate

2) Ronnie O’Sullivan – 17

O’Sullivan became the youngest-ever winner of a ranking event when, aged 17, he beat Stephen Hendry to claim the 1993 UK Snooker Championship. Two years later, he was victorious in the 1995 Masters to add another record to his CV by the age of 19, both accolades that he still holds.

Victory in the 2022 Snooker World Championship was his eighth, drawing him level with Hendry for most wins, as he has lived up to the excitement that accompanied his arrival onto the scene more than 30 years ago to become one of the sport’s all-time greats.

In 2023, O’Sullivan regained the UK Championship title earning himself the honour of becoming both the youngest and oldest player to ever win the tournament.