Luke Littler pulled off a tough 11-7 win over James Wade to be crowned back-to-back UK Open champion.
Wade was in his fifth UK Open final and looking for a fourth opportunity to pick up the trophy but as was the case in 2025, he ran into Littler which was a bridge too far.
Indeed, it was a remarkable repeat of the 2025 UK Open final in which Littler came through with an 11-2 demolition of Wade.
This time round though it was much closer but Littler prevailed once again to become just the fourth player ever to go back-to-back at this event, joining Raymond van Barneveld, Phil Taylor, and Michael van Gerwen.
On the way to picking up the trophy, Littler beat Damon Heta, Kevin Doets, Gary Anderson, Danny Noppert, Josh Rock, and then Wade.
“It feels amazing. I don’t think it has been the best of tournaments for myself average wise but I have dug deep throughout the tournament and I have come out with a win,” Littler told ITV Sport.
“That is what James does, he is always behind you and I said to him after the game that if he had hit those double tops then it is a completely different game.
“Me and James always have a good battle.
“I said ‘back-to-back, you can get me next year’.
“I wasn’t happy with myself in the early rounds but as a player you have got to dig deep.
“We have come out as champ!”
It was a dismal opening session in the final for Wade but somehow, he managed to win two out of five legs available despite his 80 average, Littler’s doubling letting him down once again.
Wade’s body language did not improve in the second session and while Littler was clearly the better of what seemed two struggling players, the match was still very much up in the air with Littler 6-4 up after a key break of throw.
Despite there being, at times, a 12-point gap in the averages, Wade kept himself in the contest and took his minimal opportunities, upped his average, and managed to move level at 7-7.
The pivotal moment in the contest came in the 16th leg as Littler found just his second D10 finish out of 10 attempts at his favourite out shot which saw him break Wade’s throw and accelerate through to the 11-7 win.
Littler comes through another semi-final battle with Rock
Littler kept his 100 per cent record in major semi-finals, winning 16 out of 16, in a 11-9 battle against Josh Rock.
Littler took the first leg but then was the architect of his own downfall from the second leg onwards as he missed 12 doubles in a row while Rock pinned his with 100 per cent accuracy. That saw the Northern Irishman take four legs on the spin for a 4-1 lead.
While Rock then made it 5-1 with a brilliant 128 checkout for a break of throw, the surge for Littler arrived and after three successive 13-darters, he had things level at 5-5 in no time.
There was truly nothing separating the pair as things got nervu but after a break apiece to arrive at 9-9, Littler found a crucial second break to move 10-9 ahead which allowed him to throw for the match and pin tops to make Rock endure another semi-final heartbreak and make his wait for a major final continue.
Wade shows class in win over Price
Wade put in a world-class showing to come through with an 11-8 victory over Gerwyn Price in the semi-finals.
It was incredible darts from both players to get this contest going but doubling mistakes from Wade and a miscount from Price gifted a break either way which say Price take an early 3-2 lead.
While Wade was hitting 180s for fun, Price was clinical on the doubles which lead to a session of break after break of throw with the pair averaging over 105, a magnificent 136 checkout for ‘The Machine’ levelling things at 5-5 with the game finely poised.
From there though it was all about Wade as he found another level and made it seven legs in a row with a massive 167 checkout on the bullseye on the way. It was a big 121 finish for Price that got him back on the scoreboard and brought the score to 9-6.
Price had a surge as he brought the score to 10-8 but it was too little too late as Wade get his power scoring going and eventually took D10 to make it back-to-back UK Open finals in Minehead.
Who will win this year’s Premier League Darts? Watch Night Six live on Thursday March 12 from 7pm on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports+. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
