Teenager Luke Littler beat Belgium’s Mike de Decker 8-4 in Saturday’s remaining to win the Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong.
The world champion noticed off Australia’s Damon Heta 6-3 and world quantity 5 Stephen Bunting 7-4 on his method to the title match.
De Decker was making his debut on this planet collection and overcame world primary Luke Humphries – who was affected by sickness – 6-0 within the quarter-finals earlier than a 7-4 win over Chris Dobey secured his place within the remaining.
World Grand Prix champion De Decker recovered from two legs down early on to degree at 2-2 earlier than Littler gained six of the subsequent eight legs to take the title.
“It felt excellent,” Littler, 18, advised ITV Sport. “I knew if I gained the primary sport [against Damon Heta] it could be an extended night time and I’m very joyful.”
Littler misplaced within the remaining of this occasion 12 months in the past, with Welshman Gerwyn Value beating him 8-1, so his newest victory was notably candy.
It additionally got here in a marketing campaign the place till this second he had struggled to make his mark within the 2025 world collection.
The English teenager stated: “It isn’t gone to plan to this point this yr on this planet collection, however there’s loads of alternatives to win and I am glad I’ve obtained it accomplished tonight.”
Travelling to Australia off the again of successful the World Matchplay in Blackpool, Littler averted a significant upset on the opening night time as he gained a final-leg decider 6-5 towards Haupai Puha.
The gamers will now journey to Auckland subsequent weekend for the one other world collection occasion, the New Zealand Darts Masters.
