Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler has officially become the sport's world number one and celebrated the achievement by successfully defending his Grand Slam of Darts title in a thrilling final against his great rival, Luke Humphries.
From Semi-Final Triumph to Top Spot
The 18-year-old's ascent to the summit of world darts was confirmed earlier on Sunday when he secured victory in his semi-final match against Danny Noppert. This result set the stage for a titanic clash in the evening's final in Wolverhampton, where Littler would face the man he had just deposed as world number one.
Speaking after his semi-final win, an elated Littler said, "It's not even been two years, I have not even spent two years on tour and I am already world number one. That is job done, now I am world number one, but I have got a bigger match tonight."
A Historic Victory in Wolverhampton
In a display of sheer dominance, Littler flexed his muscles against Humphries, securing a 16-11 triumph. This victory made him just the fourth man in history to defend the Grand Slam of Darts title.
The final, which took place on Sunday 16 November 2025, was another epic chapter in their fierce rivalry, representing their fourth major final showdown of the year. The decisive moment came when Littler checked out a spectacular 167 to level the match at 8-8, immediately followed by a 160 finish to take an 11-9 lead. His audacious play even prompted a mock punch from Humphries as they left the stage.
Reflecting on the constant battle with his rival, Littler added after the match, "No-one, me, Luke, we're never ever going to run away with anything. It's always going to be close."
The Road to the Summit and What Comes Next
Littler's position at the top of the rankings seemed inevitable ever since his record-breaking run to the final of the 2024 World Championship. He became the youngest world champion a year later and has since become a global star, transcending the sport. He now officially holds the record as the youngest ever world number one, beating Michael van Gerwen, who was 24 when he first topped the rankings in 2014.
For Humphries, who beat Gerwyn Price to reach the final, the war is not over. The 30-year-old acknowledged his time at the top had ended but vowed to fight back. "This is the last day as number one I've been so happy and proud of myself," Humphries said. "When it gets to the Worlds, I've got one opportunity to take it back from him. I'll be fighting hard, it's a war now!"
The stage is now set for an explosive World Championship next month, where Humphries can reclaim the number one spot if he wins the tournament and Littler suffers an early exit.
