Littler ‘digs deep’ to go back-to-back at UK Open

Luke Littler claimed a second straight UK Open title by beating James Wade 11-7 in the final in Minehead.

Having thrashed Wade 11-2 in the 2025 decider, Littler again got the better of his fellow Englishman, albeit in a much closer contest.

By doing so, Littler became the first player since Michael van Gerwen in 2015 and 2016 to win the ‘FA Cup of darts’ back-to-back.

The 19-year-old world champion raced 3-0 ahead in the best-of-21-legs final but was pegged back to 3-3 by Wade.

Littler promptly won the next three legs before, remarkably, Wade drew level again at 6-6.

Three-time UK Open champion Wade was averaging just 88 at that point while Littler was at a shade over 100 – but some slack finishing by the world number one allowed ‘The Machine’ to stay in the contest.

But while Wade raised his level and Littler never reached anywhere close to his best, the teenager was still able to reel off four straight legs from 7-7 to seal victory.

Littler ended with an average of 99.58 and a checkout percentage of 35.48% – numbers which proved enough for him to take home the £120,000 prize money.

“It feels amazing [to go back-to-back],” Littler told ITV4. “I don’t think it’s been the best of tournaments for me average-wise but I’ve dug deep throughout the tournament and I’ve come out with a win.

Littler had been pushed all the way in his semi-final by Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock.

‘The Nuke’ hit just one of his first 17 darts at double and found himself 5-1 down, only to battle his way back and secure a 11-9 win – extending his unbeaten record in major semi-finals to 16.

Meanwhile, Wade came out on top in a scintillating semi-final against Gerwyn Price, who had earlier overcome Jonny Clayton in an all-Welsh quarter-final.

Both players averaged over 100, Wade registering 105.53 to Price’s 101.39, as he claimed an 11-8 win.