SENSATIONAL Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler has added another major title to his honours board after demolishing James Wade in the final of the UK Open at Butlin’s, Minehead.
The world, Premier League, Grand Slam and World Series champion was in the zone as he rocketed to a 5-0 lead against the three-times winner.
Warrington superstar Littler was in no mood to let go of such a commanding cushion in the FA Cup of darts, especially against a man who had ended the hopes of world number one Luke Humphries in the last eight.
He went on to comfortably lift the trophy for the first time and pocket a cool £110,000 in doing so.
Luke Littler, the UK Open champion 2025 (Image: Kieran Cleeves/PDC)
There were great scenes on stage as 'The Nuke' danced around with the silverware to the beat of his iconic walk-on song Green Light.
"These trophies don't get any lighter," said Littler as he struggled to get comfy with the golden UK map tucked under his arm while being interviewed on stage.
"It's one I've wanted to win. My third time here, as I first came two years ago as a 16-year-old.
"Last year I was in the quarter-final and this year I've gone two better to win it.
"I had a job to do in the final. I just wanted to pick up the trophy. And it's one that I can tick off the list now."
YOUR CHAMPION! ????
Luke Littler adds to his ever-growing title haul in Minehead!
Darting demolition job from the World Champ! ???? pic.twitter.com/GiOTZ67nwK
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 2, 2025
The 18-year-old, whose traits throughout the weekend was high scoring with some trouble on the doubles, got all areas of his game on song as he went 3-0 in front.
Eight missed doubles in the fourth were not punished by the 41-year-old from Aldershot and Littler got home in 20 darts.
A better fifth leg saw the interval arrive with a big fat zilch next to Wade’s name on the scoreboard and his record of never having beaten Littler in a televised match was looking unlikely to improve A break of throw, a hold and then another break in 11 darts moved ‘The Nuke’ on to 8-0 and then 9-0 in quickfire time as Wade seemed to be troubled by hip and hand injuries.
Nevertheless the 10-times TV title winner finally got off the mark going into the second interval.
‘The Nuke’ was serenaded on stage with ‘There’s only one Luke Littler’ before the action got going again.
The teenager stayed in tune, getting going again with a 180 on his way to going within one leg of glory.
Wade held throw for 10-2 but it was only stalling the inevitable as Littler became the 14th UK Open winner in style, running out 11-2 conqueror.
In the semi-final against Jonny Clayton earlier in the evening, Littler threw seven perfect arrows in the opening leg and then missed seven shots at double before finally making one count.
Clayton, who knocked Littler out of the World Masters at the qurter-finals stage earlier this year, held throw in response and ‘The Nuke’ got home in 11 to edge back in front.
Two missed doubles from Littler, who was averaging 113, allowed the Welshman to steal leg four.
And then the teenager was off the mark with two more doubles – his 13th and 14th from 16 attempts in the game to that point – but was far enough ahead to return to the oche to hit double 10 and enter the first break 3-2 in front.
The match stayed on throw as The Ferret levelled matters again and then he made the first break, punishing Littler for three more wayward double shots.
Littler checked out on 124, ending on the bull, to break straight back and make it 4-4.
His seventh 180 of the match in the ninth leg steered ‘The Nuke’ to the front seat again, averaging close to 110.
Back came Clayton to enter the second interval at 5-5.
Double 20 first time would have given the teenager a bit of confidence as he held throw on their return to the stage.
Littler finally opened up a two-leg lead with an 82 checkout, hitting the double with his second dart, and he held throw to go 8-5 ahead.
Both players struggled on the outer ring in the 14th leg but Littler was first over the line.
An 80 checkout made it five legs on the spin and one away from the match victory for Littler going into the final break.
The Ferret reduced the gap to 10-6 but Littler clinched the match in style with a 10-darter.
