Luke Littler has been hailed as the greatest dart player in history following his dramatic victory at the World Masters tournament in Milton Keynes. The 19-year-old phenom secured his fourth consecutive major title by defeating his main rival and defending champion Luke Humphries in a tense final that went down to the wire.
A Display of Invincible Talent
The teenage sensation, who is already a back-to-back world champion, demonstrated an air of invincibility at the biggest events once again. Despite facing match darts in both the opening round and semi-final, Littler made the most of his fortunate escapes to clinch a nervy and closely contested final with a 6-5 scoreline.
Humphries' Frustration and Praise
Humphries was left exasperated by his fourth successive major defeat against the young prodigy, leading him to brand his opponent "the greatest dart player to ever live" during the post-match ceremony. Both competitors experienced periods of dominance throughout the match, with Humphries having the advantage of throwing first in the deciding set, only for Littler to demonstrate his championship mentality when the title was on the line.
This victory holds special significance for Littler as it marks his first time lifting the World Masters trophy. Remarkably, there are now just two of the eleven major televised tournaments he has yet to win during his astonishing two-year professional career. His last defeat on a major stage occurred back in October during the second round of the European Championship.
A Rivalry for the Ages
Humphries has consistently been the player most capable of challenging Littler's dominance, with this encounter representing their seventh major final against each other. The victory gives Littler a slight edge in their head-to-head record with four wins, including three consecutive triumphs.
Despite being displaced as world number one by the teenager in November, Humphries delivered an excellent tournament performance that included throwing a spectacular nine-dart finish during Saturday's sessions. However, he must now be contemplating how to overcome his rival on a regular basis moving forward.
Post-Match Reactions
A magnanimous Humphries shared his thoughts on stage after the match, stating: "It was such a great game of darts. He has shown that true class. He never folds under pressure, you try your hardest but he never folds. I think he is the greatest dart player to ever live."
He continued: "I'm feeling really good about my game. I'm gutted not to win it but I think I proved why I'm still the second best player in the world. It's not the biggest achievement, I want to be the best."
The victorious Littler revealed his physical and mental exhaustion after the grueling contest, saying: "I am shattered, absolutely knackered, going into the final set I said, 'I have nothing left, just dig deep'. I was just fully focused and I got the job done."
He added: "It has been tough at times but this is why we battle, every game, every leg and I have come out victorious. Me and Luke in the final of the first major of the year. I am sure it will continue throughout the year."
The World Masters triumph solidifies Luke Littler's position as the dominant force in professional darts, with his rival's extraordinary praise underscoring just how exceptional the teenager's achievements have become in such a short timeframe.
