From the moment he first walked on stage as a teenager, Luke Littler was rewriting the story of professional darts. Now, at just 18, he has reached the summit of the PDC rankings — becoming the youngest world number one in history. His fiery semi-final win over Danny Noppert at the Grand Slam of Darts didn’t just secure a place in the final; it mathematically clinched the No. 1 ranking.
00:00From the moment he first walked on stage as a teenager, Luke Littler was rewriting the story of professional darts.
00:08Now, at just 18, he has reached the summit of the PDC rankings, becoming the youngest world number one in history.
00:16His fiery semi-final win over Danny Knoppard at the Grand Slam of darts didn't just secure a place in the final,
00:23it mathematically clinched the number one ranking.
00:26Grand Slam champion, how special does that feel?
00:29Yeah, it's a special feeling. It's been a tremendous week, 10 days, and yeah, the hard work has paid off and I can go home as champion.
00:39A brilliant final, so many big moments, but that 160 finish to go 11-9 up, did you feel that was a turning point for you?
00:45Yeah, I felt like it was a turning point because I got back into the lead and then went on to the last break, 15-10.
00:56I knew I was only a leg away, but I just had to keep focusing and get that one leg over the line, which I did.
01:03And 14 games, 14 wins on the Grand Slam stage. What is it about this tournament that brings the best out of you?
01:08Yeah, I think I said it last year, it's just like a little Champions League knockout.
01:12And obviously to win all three games and remain unbeaten and then obviously come out of the group stage, that's when the longer format comes into playing and that's when you see the best out of me.
01:24And you knew after beating Danny you'd become the new world number one after the tournament, but to mark that achievement by lifting the title must make it extra special.
01:31Yeah, obviously I've been checking the rankings and obviously if Luke Bunt tonight he'd only be 500 quid behind me, but I've managed to pull away and make that a smaller gap.
01:42But Littler knows that the battle is far from over. Standing between him and the true dominance of the sport is his great rival Luke Humphreys.
01:51The two have traded blows all season, from major finals to ranking events.
01:55Littler's rise has come as Humphreys defends huge sums of prize money on the order of merit.
02:01Humphreys, visibly wounded by conceding the top spot, has already declared war.
02:06He's targeting the World Darts Championship as his chance to strike back.
02:11Congratulations. I remember coming in and you said you wanted to defend one because you hadn't defended a major.
02:17Was there an extra pressure and what was that feeling like knowing that you had defended one there?
02:21Yeah, I wouldn't say there's any pressure coming into it. Obviously, it was not an easy group to get out of, but I managed to get out of it with all three wins.
02:30And then, like I said there, the longer format comes in, that's when you see the best out of me.
02:35And yeah, it's all paid off.
02:37Yeah, I am the best in the world. I can finally say it. World number one.
02:41You are the best in the world. And obviously to top it off, going back to back makes it even more special.
02:47Again, on stage, you and Luke there with Polly at Sky, in a league of your own, do you agree that you two are literally right now the best two players by far better than anyone else on the planet?
02:58Yeah, I think we are. The finals show it, the stats show it.
03:02And like Luke said there, if everyone's getting bored of me and him, then someone needs to stop us, otherwise we're going to keep winning one and two.
03:09We're always going to meet in the final if we get past our opponents and we'll make it continue.
03:13With the world's biggest stage looming, the run into the world championship has taken on new intensity.
03:20Every tournament, every match, every leg even carries weight, not just for glory, but for leverage.
03:27Littler's hunger is palpable. I want to stay number one for years, he has said.
03:31Do you have a psychological edge now? You've won the last, you know, the Grand Prix in here and going to the world.
03:38Big win over Luke tonight again as well, like the Grand Prix. Does that mean you've got it all in the head? Are you in his head as well, do you think?
03:45No, I wouldn't say I'm in his head. It's just, it's a brand new final for us.
03:50No matter, obviously it's set play, leg play. It's whatever happens on a day. Luke played fantastic there, so did I.
03:56But the 160 to get myself into the lead and to go two legs clear, I think that really changed it.
04:03More than Raymond, then obviously the rival could be better.
04:06But yeah, I don't think anyone's going to get past Phil's records and whatever he's done.
04:11But me and Luke are just going to keep going, doing our own business and if we do meet in the final, then it'll be another great final.
04:17Humphrey's meanwhile is laser-focused. Win in early January and he can reclaim his crown.
04:23In the end, Littler's ascent isn't just about talent, it's a declaration.
04:28He's not just the future of darts, he is the present.
04:31And as the World Championship approaches, his rivalry with Luke Humphreys promises to write the next chapter of a duel that could define a generation.
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