Luke Littler suffers agonising defeat in World Darts Championship final having led 4-2 as Luke Humphries takes five straight sets to win title and £500,000 prize... with 16-year-old earning £200,000
- Luke Littler fell one step short of making history as Luke Humphries clinched the World Darts Championship
- The 16-year-old again produced a superb performance only for the world No 1 to finish off strongly
- Re-live Luke Humphries's stunning victory in the final of the World Darts Championship as it happened
The future of darts might belong to Luke Littler, but the present is owned by Luke Humphries, world champion and smaller than no man across three fabulous weeks and one utterly absorbing final.
For so long it had seemed the stars would line up in the favour of a 16-year-old phenomenon, the child prince of Alexandra Palace who is destined to be king.
But sport, glorious sport, does not always work that way and nor does Humphries, the hottest player in this wonderful game and its greatest shredder of scripts.
He ripped this one up. Well and truly, he did. He ripped it up like Stewart Cink did Tom Watson’s at the 2009 Open. He ripped it up like Stephen Hendrie did whenever Jimmy White had a sniff at the Crucible. He ripped it up like Usain Bolt’s hamstring in his final race.
And so there was no perfect end to the Littler fairytale, but in its place you have the charming story of his fellow Englishman and the compelling swings of a match that caught the attention of the nation.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/22/79591835-12923851-image-a-75_1704320141934.jpg)
Luke Humphries won the World Darts Championship after seeing off 16-year-old wonderkid Luke Littler in the final
![The pair produced one of the best finals in the tournament's history, with Littler unable to stop Humphries' winning streak](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/23/79591837-12923851-The_pair_produced_one_of_the_best_finals_in_the_tournament_s_his-a-6_1704324828372.jpg)
The pair produced one of the best finals in the tournament's history, with Littler unable to stop Humphries' winning streak
![Littler at one point looked like he was on his way to making history after taking a 4-2 set lead against the World No 1](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/23/79588989-12923851-Littler_at_one_point_looked_like_he_was_on_his_way_to_making_his-a-7_1704324828373.jpg)
Littler at one point looked like he was on his way to making history after taking a 4-2 set lead against the World No 1
![Humphries though regained his composure to clinch the final five sets of the match to stop Littler's incredible run](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/23/79591531-12923851-Humphries_though_regained_his_composure_to_clinch_the_final_five-a-8_1704324828374.jpg)
Humphries though regained his composure to clinch the final five sets of the match to stop Littler's incredible run
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/01/11/79592969-12923851-image-a-1_1706788291439.jpg)
Humphries was visibly emotional as he dropped to his knees after hitting a double eight to wrap up the championship
![Humphries (seen hugging Littler) said he was 'glad to win this one' as Littler could 'dominate' the sport going forward](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/23/79591717-12923851-Humphries_seen_hugging_Littler_said_he_was_glad_to_win_this_one_-a-10_1704324828375.jpg)
Humphries (seen hugging Littler) said he was 'glad to win this one' as Littler could 'dominate' the sport going forward
If we start with the last of those, the final score of 7-4 might seem a trifle too wide for a classic, but that would undersell the drama within.
More precisely, it would undercook the manner in which Littler recovered from a sloppy, nervy start to lead 4-2. It would overlook how the kid then had a throw for 5-2 and missed the double two. It would also gloss over the brilliance of how Humphries won that set and each of the next three to the rat-tat-tat soundtrack of great darts.
When he nailed his second attempt at double eight to complete the job, he sank to his knees and wept and, for the first time on that stage, the boy genius next to him looked his age. He seemed a little lost, a little caught between the temptation to shrug or scream.
Littler’s average of 101.1 was his lowest since the third round of this extraordinary run and at moments in the final he touched his brilliant best, but not often enough. Not enough doubles, not enough 180s – 13 to Humphries’ 23 and the champion’s superior average of 103.6. But we shouldn’t focus too much on the shooting star who lost, because there has been enough of that already and this was Humphries’ night.
He had ridden in the shadows ahead of this final, owing to what was blowing up on the other side of the draw, but he is a fascinating figure in his own right. That and a supremely gifted player of 28.
Indeed, Humphries had won three of the past four of darts’ major events, so he was already good for world No 1, and prior to that upturn, he was awfully close to leaving the game in 2019. He was four stones heavier then and thinking about returning to his old life as a roofer with his dad.
What a difference a few seasons make. By the time this final was done in this final, Humphries was £500,000 richer – Littler pocketed the smaller fortune of £200,000 - and ready to act on a plan to get his dad off the roofs for good. Once he himself gets down from the ceiling, that is.
It is perhaps wise after the event to wonder if the circumstances and hype around Littler favoured Humphries in what was, by a distance, the youngest final in the 31 years of the PDC world championship.
![Humphries celebrates with his partner Kayley Jones before the trophy presentation at Ally Pally on Wednesday night](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/23/79591719-12923851-Humphries_celebrates_with_his_partner_Kayley_Jones_before_the_tr-a-11_1704324828375.jpg)
Humphries celebrates with his partner Kayley Jones before the trophy presentation at Ally Pally on Wednesday night
![Littler's incredible performance at his debut World Darts Championship has been one of the biggest stories in the sport's recent history](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/23/79588301-12923851-Littler_s_incredible_performance_at_his_debut_World_Darts_Champi-a-12_1704324828376.jpg)
Littler's incredible performance at his debut World Darts Championship has been one of the biggest stories in the sport's recent history
![Humphries, 28, recently became the World No 1 and his match with Littler was the youngest final in the tournament's history](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/23/79588979-12923851-Humphries_28_recently_became_the_World_No_1_and_his_match_with_L-a-13_1704324828377.jpg)
Humphries, 28, recently became the World No 1 and his match with Littler was the youngest final in the tournament's history
![While Littler showed signs he could one day be the best, Humphries showed why he is at this moment winning his fourth major out of five](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/23/79592867-12923851-While_Littler_showed_signs_he_could_one_day_be_the_best_Humphrie-a-14_1704324828377.jpg)
While Littler showed signs he could one day be the best, Humphries showed why he is at this moment winning his fourth major out of five
By the time they had made it to the oche, shortly after 8.20pm, the old place had been whipped into a frenzy of dancing reindeer, swaying traffic cones and singing Oompa Lumpas, and the world outside had been brought along for the wildest of rides.
In the national newspapers alone, there were no fewer than 37 Littler headlines on Wednesday morning, and Sky Sports were reporting semi-final viewing figures of 2.3million – more than the Ryder Cup and Ashes. Littler was making his sport bigger and as such he had the crowd. Rather shamefully, a few present extended that to booing Humphries on his walk up the green path to the stage.
But he was not rattled, unlike his younger opponent. Starting with the darts, Littler opened with a 44 and lost the set 3-1 with only a single 180. It was only the second time Littler had trailed by a set all tournament.
Into the second and the kid was sinking fast at two legs down until it changed quite magnificently when Humphries missed double top for a whitewash set. That allowed Littler to snatch a lifeline and checkouts of 142 and 120 gave him the set – from dormant to volcanic in barely eight minutes.
![Littler got a thunderous ovation as he covered his face before walking out to the stage for the biggest match of his short career](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/23/79587561-12923851-Littler_got_a_thunderous_ovation_as_he_covered_his_face_before_w-a-15_1704324828378.jpg)
Littler got a thunderous ovation as he covered his face before walking out to the stage for the biggest match of his short career
![Humphries and Littler bump fists before the start of the final match on Day 16 of the World Darts Championship](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/23/79588341-12923851-Humphries_and_Littler_bump_fists_before_the_start_of_the_final_m-a-16_1704324828378.jpg)
Humphries and Littler bump fists before the start of the final match on Day 16 of the World Darts Championship
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/23/79588945-12923851-image-a-17_1704324828379.jpg)
Friends and family of Littler including his girlfriend Eloise Milburn watched on in attendance hoping to see him prevail
![James Maddison, who invited Littler to watch a recent Tottenham match, was one of the famous faces in attendance](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/23/79588317-12923851-James_Maddison_who_invited_Littler_to_watch_a_recent_Tottenham_m-a-18_1704324828379.jpg)
James Maddison, who invited Littler to watch a recent Tottenham match, was one of the famous faces in attendance
![British heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora was also seen keenly watching on at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday evening](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/23/79588303-12923851-British_heavyweight_boxer_Derek_Chisora_was_also_seen_keenly_wat-a-19_1704324828380.jpg)
British heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora was also seen keenly watching on at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday evening
Instead of 5-2, it was quickly 4-4 and an 11-darter gave Humphries a third straight set and all of the momentum at 5-4 – his averages in that run were a staggering 113, 114 and 109. It seemed that every time Littler scored well and threatened, Humphries would go that bit better and close a door.
A 170 checkout by Littler for 1-1 in the 10th drew an immense roar, from boy and crowd, but still he lost the set. He had no more lives to spare and then missed three shots at doubles when he had chances for 6-5.
Humphries was too good to not capitalise, just as he was too good all along to be in the shadows. It took a special kid to put him there and a special performance to get him into the light.
I've never seen a darts final before but my wife a...
by Andrew Eldrich 350