ITV issued an apology during its coverage of the UK Open final after darts fans at Butlin's Minehead Resort & Holiday Park were heard singing a chant about Prime Minister Keir Starmer containing foul language. The incident occurred during the second session of Sunday's showpiece match between James Wade and Luke Littler, with the crowd's singing of "Keir Starmer's a w*****" clearly audible to viewers.
Littler went on to defeat Wade 11-7, repeating his victory over the same opponent in last year's final, though the margin was narrower than the 11-2 win twelve months earlier. The victory made Littler the first player since Michael van Gerwen in 2015 and 2016 to retain the title, and he is now one of only five players to have won the tournament multiple times. Wade, who previously triumphed in 2008, 2011 and 2021, remains the other multiple winner on that list.
Speaking after his latest success, Littler said: "It feels amazing. I don't think it has been the best tournament for me, average-wise, but I have dug deep throughout and come out with a win. That is what James does, he is always behind you. I told him after the game that if he had hit those double tops, it would have been a completely different game."
Littler also referenced setting his sights on a back-to-back triumph after seeing that Van Gerwen was the last to achieve the feat a decade ago. "That was the target I set myself, but like I always say, take it game by game," he added. "I don't think many people expected me to come here and win. I think I can say I am back to my best. I am back!"
Wade, meanwhile, accepted defeat with grace, telling ITV4: "Luke was just too good for me in the end. I was maybe a little bit gassed out, being older than he is. I couldn't quite find it, but hats off to him, he's doing what he does, and he does it quite easily. Luke is the best player in the world right now, and unfortunately, I have lost to him in three finals."
