00:00At just 18, Luke Littler has had a 20-25 that will be remembered as one of the most remarkable
00:08in darts history. The year began with Littler becoming the youngest ever winner of the PDC
00:13World Darts Championship, defeating Michael Van Gogh in 7-3 in the final. He didn't just win,
00:19he shattered records, setting the highest three-set dart average in a World Championship
00:24match at 140.91 in the deciding set. Man Slam champion, how special does that feel?
00:32It's a special feeling. It's been a tremendous week, 10 days, and the hard work has paid off
00:39and I can go home as champion. A brilliant final, so many big moments,
00:43but that 160 finish to go 11-9 up, did you feel that was a turning point for you?
00:47Yeah, I felt like it was a turning point because I got back into the lead and then went on to it.
00:54Going to the last break, 15-10, I knew I was only a leg away, but I just had to keep focusing
01:02and get that one leg over the line, which I did.
01:05And 14 games, 14 wins on the Grand Slam stage. What is it about this tournament that brings
01:10the best out of you?
01:10Yeah, I think I said it last year, it's just like a little Champions League knockout.
01:16Obviously, to win all three games and remain unbeaten and then obviously come out of the
01:20group stage, that's when the longer format comes into playing and that's when you see the best out of me.
01:26And you knew after beating Danny, you'd become the new World No. 1 after the tournament,
01:30but to mark that achievement by lifting the title must make it extra special.
01:33Yeah, obviously, I've been checking the rankings and obviously, with Luke Bunt tonight,
01:37he'd only be 500 quid behind me, but I've managed to pull away and make that a smaller gap.
01:45Littler's momentum only grew as the season progressed. He claimed multiple major titles,
01:51including the UK Open, the World Match Play and the World Grand Prix.
01:55At Blackpool's World Match Play, he became the youngest ever winner and broke the tournament
02:00record for most 180s. His dominance extended into the Grand Slam of darts, where he defeated
02:06Luke Humphrey, 16-11, to lift the trophy and officially become World No. 1, the youngest
02:12in PDC history, surpassing even Michael Van Gerwitt.
02:17Congratulations. I remember coming in, you said you wanted to defend one because you hadn't
02:21defended a major. Was there an extra pressure? What was that feeling like knowing that you
02:24had defended one there?
02:26Yeah, I wouldn't say there's any pressure coming into it. Obviously, it was not an easy group
02:31to get out of, but I managed to get out of it with all three wins. And like I said there,
02:36the longer format comes in, that's when you see the best out of me. And yeah, it's all
02:42paid off.
02:43Yeah, I am the best in the world. I can finally say it. World No. 1, you are the best in the
02:47world. And obviously, to top it off, going back to back, it makes it even more special.
02:52Again, on stage, you and Luke there, with Polly at Sky, in a league of your own, do you agree
02:57that you two are, literally right now, the best two players, by far, better than anyone
03:02else on the planet?
03:03Yeah, obviously, I think we are. The finals show it, the stats show it. And like Luke said
03:08there, if everyone's getting bored of me and him, then someone needs to stop us, otherwise
03:12we're going to keep winning. One and two, we're always going to meet in the final if we
03:16get past our opponents, and we'll make it continue.
03:18Five or more major titles in one year is a feat achieved by only a handful of legends,
03:25including Phil Taylor and Michael Van Gerwen. And Littler has done it at an age when most
03:30players are just breaking into the professional scene. Behind titles and statistics, his composure,
03:37precision and consistency under pressure have set him apart from the field.
03:42Do you have a psychological edge now? You've won the last, you know, the Grand Prix in here
03:47and going to the Worlds. Big win over Luke tonight again as well, like the Grand Prix.
03:52Does that mean you've got it all in the head? Are you in his head as well, do you think?
03:56No, I wouldn't say I'm in his head. It's just, it's a brand new final for us.
04:00No matter, obviously, it's set play, leg play. It's whatever happens on a day. Luke played
04:05fantastic there, so did I. But the 160 to get myself into the lead and to go two legs clear,
04:11I think that really changed it. Won more than Raymond, then obviously the rival could be better.
04:17But yeah, I don't think anyone's going to get past Phil's records and whatever he's done.
04:23But me and Luke, we're just going to keep going, doing our own business. And then if we do meet
04:26in the final, then it'll be another great final.
04:28For now, Littler is not just the rising star of darts. He is the standard bearer the man
04:34everyone else measures themselves against. After a year like 2025, the sport has a new
04:40benchmark and it comes in the form of Luke Littler.
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