World Matchplay darts 2026 results: Luke Littler defends title and smashes Phil Taylor's average record
19-year-old Luke Littler successfully defended his World Matchplay darts title, setting new tournament and final average records. He defeated Gerwyn Price 18-9 to secure his second consecutive victory in the event.
Why it matters
Documents a significant milestone in professional darts, highlighting the rise of a young athlete breaking long-standing records.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Luke Littler joins Rod Harrington, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen as the only back-to-back winners of the World Matchplay
Luke Littler defended his World Matchplay title in sensational style - and smashed Phil Taylor's tournament and final average records in the process.
The 19-year-old beat seventh seed Gerwyn Price 18-9 in Blackpool to become just the fourth person to win back-to-back Matchplay titles.
World number one Littler finished the week with an average of 111.04, beating Taylor's record of 106.31 in 2010.
He averaged 111.53 in the final, setting a new record as he bettered Taylor's 111.23 against Adrian Lewis in 2013.
Littler claimed £225,000 in prize money for winning the event and now has £3,143,500 over the PDC's two-year order of merit. That is £2.13m more than Luke Humphries in second spot.
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