LITTLER BECOMES YOUNGEST TRIPLE CROWN WINNER AFTER CLINCHING WORLD MATCHPLAY

LUKE LITTLER clinched the World Matchplay title and completed the ‘Triple Crown’ with a 18-13 victory over James Wade in Blackpool. 

‘The Nuke’ fired a stellar 107.24 average and posted 17 maximums – breaking the record for most 180s in the tournament’s history with 64. 

Teen sensation Littler becomes the fifth player to achieve the triple of World Championship, Premier League and Matchplay. 

Only Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Luke Humphries have achieved it before. 

Littler admitted he is honoured to join the exclusive club and lift the Phil Taylor trophy. 

He said: “It means absolutely everything, Phil Taylor was my idol. Now my name is on this list of his trophy and I can say I have completed the triple crown. 

“At 5-0 down once again I said to myself ‘you’ve been here before, what you are doing?’ I think James [Wade] started to drop off a bit and I started to find my best darts. 

“There’s been a few times in the past where I’ve got myself back into the game but the past week has really shown me as a player that I can come back from 5-0 down or from 7-3 down. 

“I came here last year and lost in the first round. Some people might have thought I might lose again but I pulled myself out and got these opportunities and I don’t want to be 5-0 down again. 

“Since I started, I always said to myself, as long as I win one of every major then I’ll be happy. I’ve only got a few left to tick off but I’ll chase the majors I haven’t won yet. 

“I want to go home back to a bit of normality and rest next week and then fly over to Australia and see everyone out there.” 

World No. 2 Littler recovered from losing the first five legs to hold off the 2007 champion. 

The 18-year-old flew back out from the break and levelled the score at 5-5. 

10-times major winner Wade stayed neck and neck with the Warrington thrower until Littler headed into the third break 11-9. 

Littler continued his surge as he hit seven perfect darts before missing treble 17 by the width of a wire on a nine dart checkout on his way to taking a 14-11 advantage at the end of the penultimate mini session. 

But Wade roared again, breaking Littler’s throw to hold his own immediately after.   

Six-times major winner Littler overcame more pressure from ‘The Machine’ to take out double five and stop the rot before he punished Wade to take the game away by breaking back to move two away from victory. 

Littler held throw again before breaking Wade in the final leg, pinning double 19 for a glorious 119 finish. 

Image by Taylor Lanning.