Luke Littler won his first World Matchplay title with an 18-13 victory over James Wade at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. The 18-year-old became the fifth player to complete the PDC triple crown, joining Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Luke Humphries in winning the World Championship, Matchplay and Premier League titles.
Wade, in his seventh Matchplay final 18 years after his sole success in 2007, started strongly by taking a 5-0 lead. However, Littler responded by winning the next five legs to level the match. The teenager's scoring power proved decisive, hitting 17 180s to Wade's six and averaging 107. He set a new tournament record of 64 maximums, surpassing Adrian Lewis's previous best of 56.
Littler took the lead for the first time at 7-6 and, after Wade fought back to 14-13, pulled away by winning the last four legs. He sealed victory with a 115 checkout, the highest of the match. 'It means absolutely everything,' Littler said. 'I idolise Phil [Taylor], he's come here 16 times and won it. Now my name is on this trophy – and I can say I've completed the triple crown.'
The victory makes Littler the youngest ever Matchplay champion, six years younger than Wade was when he won the title in 2007. 'I've shown I can come back from 5-0 or 7-3 down,' Littler added. 'I'm happy I can pull myself out of these scorelines, but I don't want to be 5-0 down again.'
