At just 18 years old, Luke Littler has etched his name into darts history by claiming the World Matchplay title and joining an elite group of only five players to secure the sport's Triple Crown.
The teenager's victory over James Wade in the final makes him the youngest champion in the tournament's history, surpassing the previous record by six years.
Littler's triumph at the Winter Gardens adds to his Premier League victory in 2024 and World Championship success in 2025.
His achievement places him alongside legends Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Luke Humphries as the only players to capture all three prestigious titles.
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|At just 18 years old, Luke Littler has etched his name into darts history by claiming the World Matchplay title and joining an elite group of only five players to secure the sport's Triple Crown
The Triple Crown in darts comprises the World Championship, World Matchplay and Premier League - a concept devised by commentators Rod Studd and Wayne Mardle.
While debate exists about its official status, membership remains exclusive to darts' elite performers.
The achievement represents the pinnacle of success in PDC darts. Each tournament demands different skills and consistency across various formats, making the Triple Crown a true test of all-round excellence.
The £200,000 winner's cheque pushed Littler's career earnings beyond £2million - an extraordinary milestone reached in merely 19 months as a PDC professional.
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LITTLER REIGNS AT THE WINTER GARDENS! ☢️
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 27, 2025
LUKE LITTLER IS THE 2025 WORLD MATCHPLAY CHAMPION!
The World Champion produces a sensational display to defeat James Wade 18-13 and lift the Phil Taylor Trophy for the first time! 👏#MatchplayDarts | Final pic.twitter.com/DoHwZsORJQ
His trophy cabinet now boasts six major titles, including victories at the UK Open in 2025, plus the Grand Slam and World Series of Darts Finals in 2024.
Beyond these majors, the teenager has accumulated eight additional PDC titles.
His semi-final performance against Josh Rock featured a flawless nine-dart finish, demonstrating the exceptional standard that has characterised his rapid ascent.
This financial success and trophy haul represent unprecedented achievements for someone who only turned professional in early 2024.
Wade's appearance in the final marked his seventh attempt at World Matchplay glory, arriving 19 years after his previous final in 2006.
The 41-year-old first faced Taylor in that debut final, before claiming his sole Winter Gardens title in 2007 when he was just 24.
His record in finals reveals a pattern of defeats to Triple Crown holders. Taylor defeated him three times, while van Gerwen also claimed victory in a final encounter, and now Littler has added to that tally.
Speaking after his victory, meanwhile, Littler said: “It means absolutely everything.
"Taylor has won it 16 times but now my name is on the list. I can say that I’ve completed the triple crown.
“I was 5-0 down once again. I said to myself ‘you’ve been here before’.
“James began to drop off a bit and I started to find my best darts.
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|Luke Littler was elated after beating James Wade to win the World Matchplay on Sunday night
“The past week has really shown me as a player. I can come back from 5-0 and 7-3 down.
“Last year I lost in the first round, people might think I’d do the same again.
“Since I won my tour card I said to myself, as long as I win one of every major, I’ll be happy. I’ve only got a few left to tick off.”