Reigning PDC World Champion, Luke Littler was crowned the 2025 KenoGo Australian Darts Master, defeating debutant Mike De Decker 8-4 in the final.
It’s the teenagers first title on Australaisian soil and with a trip across the Tasman Sea coming up, Littler could make it a unique double in New Zealand.
Belgian number one joked to Dan Dawson that Littler should retire as it’s not fun anymore. The Warringtonian at just 18-years old will probably hang around for a little longer – not least because he’s way off pension age.
The youngster dodged a bullet in his opening Woolongong match, requiring a break of Huapai Puha’s throw in a deciding leg. However, after a good nights sleep, the real Luke Littler did indeed stand up, registering a 102.84 average in seeing off national favourite Damon Heta 6-3.
Unfortunately for The Heat, he was unable to repeat his explosive first round antics and despite putting in a decent shift, it wasn’t enough on this occasion. Semi-final place booked for Luke.
With the feeling that the Littler express was just gathering speed, the wonderkid saw off Stephen Bunting who has been a bit of a bogey World Series player this year for him. Though, with thescores locked at 4-4 after neither chucker was relinuishing throw, the teenager made his move to knock in three consecutive legs and book his spot in the final.
Awaiting The Nuke, a fella from Belgium in his first ever World Series event and boosted by a whitewash win earlier in the evening against the highest ranked player on the planet – Luke Humphies. Not often you see Cool Hand getting bagelled – in fact, this was only the sixth time in the Newbury man’s career it’s happened. Then the current World Grand Prix Champ gained his final berth with a solid 7-4 victory over Chris Dobey.
So, onto the finale in New South Wales, and it was Littler who came out the blocks the quickest, racing to a 2-0 lead. Satisfying for Luke after spending most his World Matchplay campaign staring down the barrel of large deficits,
De Decker then got cosy and levelled up, taking advantage of a missed opportnites from his oppnent. But it was Littler’s constant assault on the treble twenty which was doing the damage – and that combned with good accurany stats on the outer ring – it’s hard to halt the flow.
In what seemed like a blink of an eye, The Nuke led 5-2 and although the impressive Belgian kept plugging away, he was unable to grab a crucial break of throw. All that meant Littler was able to stay strong on his own darts and cruise to victory. Oh … and just the seven maximums in that game.
It’s Littler’s first World Series win this year and after his success at the Winter Gardens, building up a nice little winning streak. Extending it by four more matchs next weekend, and he will add a title on New Zealand soil to his ever glittering darting resume.
Quarter-Final
(1) Stephen Bunting 6-0 Josh Rock
(4) Luke Littler 6-3 Damon Heta
(2) Gerwyn Price 4-6 Chris Dobey
(3) Luke Humphries 0-6 Mike De Decker
Semi Final
Stephen Bunting 4-7 Luke Littler
Chris Dobey 4-7 Mike De Decker
Final
Luke Littler 8-4 Mike De Decker
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
