Luke Littler warns he can still get better after retaining World Matchplay title

Luke Littler warned he can still get better after crushing Gerwyn Price 18-9 to retain his Betfred World Matchplay title in Blackpool.Littler was in imperious form as he set a new record for the final with an average of 111.53, lifting his average for the tournament as a whole to 111.

04 to break Phil Taylor’s previous high mark of 106.31.Littler also broke his own competition record for 180s as he hit 12 in the final to reach 66 for the week.

The win keeps Littler on course for a clean sweep of trophies in 2026 having already won the World Championship, UK Open, Premier League and the Masters.But while the 19-year-old said this was the best version of himself to date, there is still plenty more to come.“I can still get better,” Littler said.

“I can get a lot better. Through the matches, I was up to a 120 average at one point and I didn’t make it stick. Maybe in a few years’ time I will stick it and go up to a 120 average.

“At the minute I’m playing some of the best stuff and I’ve just got to keep it there…“The main goal was to win every major once. I don’t know how many years are left in me.

We’re still only two and a half years into my professional career. It’s far from done.”Littler suggested his relentless scoring reflected his deep desire to become only the third man to successfully defend the Matchplay title after Taylor and Michael van Gerwen, who achieved it 10 years ago.

“I’ve come out with the best outcome there is in any tournament by lifting the trophy, but the way I’ve done it, I’ve definitely surprised myself but it’s down to the commitment I’ve got.“I wanted to win this trophy more than anything, go back to back, put my name on that list and that’s what I’ve done. I wasn’t playing the best (in the World Series) but I’ve come here with a different mindset.”

Price, appearing in his first final since 2022 having never won the trophy, had said earlier in the week that if he brought his best to the final he could beat Littler, but it was not the case as, even averaging 104.97, the Welshman was blown away.“Luke is one in a million,” Price said.

“I think I played pretty decent.“In that game I missed a couple of opportunities but the bull checkouts, the 167, it was a big turning point even though it was early in the game.open image in galleryGerwyn Price (right) recognises Littler as “one in a million” (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire)“I didn’t play brilliant, but I played decent.”

Earlier Beau Greaves claimed her third Women’s World Matchplay title in four years as she edged out Fallon Sherrock 6-5, taking the win with a checkout of 56 in the deciding leg.“I’m not one to celebrate but it was relief in the end,” Greaves said. “Fallon is a great lass and an even better darts player.

I knew I had to play well but to hit that last dart was an outpouring of relief.”