For most of 2025 Darts World has been making subtle and less subtle references to the power of darts’ Lukes! Whether the obvious two or another who has been edging up on the rails for some while:
Harrow’s arrow-smith Luke Woodhouse may not yet enjoy the superstardom – or silverware – of the other two English tungsten throwers who share his first name but make no mistake: Woody has more than enough in his locker to make life deeply uncomfortable for anyone who steps onto the oche opposite him regardless of what they are called.
Twelve months ago, the Worcestershire man bowed out bravely in round four of the PDC World Championship, eventually halted by Stephen Bunting. This time around, he’s back at exactly the same stage – only now with the sense that this might finally be the year he pushes through the glass ceiling. Standing in his way is Krzysztof Ratajski, with a place in the quarter-finals and a hefty £100,000 payday dangling temptingly within reach.
Woodhouse was also part of Ally Pally folklore last year, standing on stage as his Harrows teammate, Damon Heta produced a magical nine-dart leg. While delighted for his Aussie pal, Luke was even happier knowing he was on the winning side of that manufacturer derby – history with a personal footnote.
When darts fans talk about “Luke,” the conversation almost automatically drifts towards Luke Littler or Luke Humphries – and rightly so, given what the pair have achieved. But Woodhouse is the elder statesman of the trio. At 37, he’s been grinding away long before at least one of them was a household name, learning the trade the hard way on unforgiving circuits where nothing is gifted and everything is earned.
Back in 2020 Woody featured on the cover of Darts World Magazine after hitting a 9-darter during the PDC’s Darts-at-Home effort to keep ticking during the early Covid-19 lockdowns. So in some way he holds a little piece of DW history as the last cover star before our reboot for Issue 570
Still awaiting his first senior PDC title, the Bewdley thrower does have a Challenge Tour win to his name, alongside a catalogue of strong televised major runs that have frustratingly tended to stall around the last-16 mark. The hope – and belief – is that Ally Pally finally provides a different ending.
There’s evidence to support that optimism. A superb semi-final run at last year’s European Championship, eventually ended by champion Ritchie Edhouse, and a thrilling quarter-final battle at the 2023 Players Championship Finals, where Gabriel Clemens finally applied the brakes. Add in a Players Championship final defeat to Wessel Nijman in the very last event of the season, and the picture is clear – Woodhouse is knocking loudly.
Bookmakers will struggle to split Woody and the Polish Eagle when they collide. Both will fancy their chances, knowing the reward is enormous – a likely showdown with reigning world champion Littler and, at the very least, a guaranteed six-figure cheque.
So, here’s the question. Are we finally about to talk about a Luke who isn’t named Humphries or Littler? Beat Ratajski – and that conversation starts immediately.
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC (main) / Darts World Ltd
