LITTLER EYES AUSTRALIAN MASTERS GLORY

LUKE LITTLER admits he’s determined to put a “difficult World Series campaign” behind him as he sets his sights on Australian Darts Masters glory. 

World No.2 Littler will take on New Zealand’s top talent, Haupai Puha, in the opening round on Friday. 

‘The Nuke’ has yet to feature in a final in any of the four World Series events so far this year, with his best run coming at the Dutch Darts Masters in January where he reached the semi-finals. 

But Littler heads Down Under brimming with confidence after claiming his second major title of the year with a stunning triumph at the World Matchplay. 

Teen sensation Littler finished runner-up to Gerwyn Price at the WIN Entertainment Centre last year and is intent on going one better. 

He said: “I always want to win it but once you finish runner up you always want to come back next year.

“It’s a long time off but now we are here and coming off the back of the World Matchplay win I am very confident and up for the task.  

“Not many people have seen me before the Matchplay go 5-0 down and I got tested. But I am happy to get the trophy and triple crown.  

“It was very weird because I would practice well off the stage. Then the first few legs on stage weren’t going to plan and then I’m chasing. 

“Soon as I would have the break, I would calm myself down and find the extra gears to comeback. 

“It’s been a difficult world series campaign. But there are plenty of opportunities to pick up titles and hopefully I can pick up one this weekend.” 

Seven-times major winner Price will begin his defence against Joe Comito.  

Markham thrower Price has won THREE Players Championship events, a Euro Tour crown and the Poland Darts Masters. 

Price knows it will be difficult to retain the top prize in Wollongong but believes he is capable given his superb run of form. 

He revealed: “I’m playing pretty decent and I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully I can get out of this jet lag and be playing a little better. 

“I think I played pretty well in the final here last year. There is a lot of boys in this tournament that are playing good stuff at the moment.  

“Josh [Rock], Luke [Littler] and Damon [Heta] they are all firing so it will be a tough one to win this year. 

“The boys that are playing in the tournament are the ones that deserve to at the minute.  

“The two Lukes and I think I am playing myself into good form. Damon Heta has been playing well all season. 

“I was a bit disappointed to go out in the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay. I did not find a purple patch which I usually do in a game and I sort of floated in around the 100 mark.  

“The main thing is I am enjoying playing and the travelling which I normally don’t do. So I am just staying more positive.” 

Belgian No. 1 Mike De Decker marks his debut Down Under with a clash against newcomer Brandon Weening. 

De Decker has endured a mixed bag of results in 2025 after failing to reach the quarter-finals in any of the four majors so far this year. 

However, ‘The Real Deal’ had a brilliant 2024 where he won the World Grand Prix and Players Championship 16. 

De Decker recently switched his setup of darts and hopes that will help rediscover his A-game heading into the busy end of the campaign. 

He admitted:  “I am really looking forward to it. It is a whole new experience.  

“I didn’t expect the call up for this but it is nice to get the recognition for what I did last year.  

“My game is a bit inconsistent because I made a slight change to my darts.  

“Now I feel more comfortable with my new ones than I did with my previous set for the past six months.

“So hopefully I get back into the form I was in last year.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.