Sports · 24 July, 2026 · 3 min read
Luke Littler Crushes Gerwyn Price 18-9 To Defend World Matchplay Title In Blackpool
Littler defends World Matchplay title with 18-9 win over Gerwyn Price. Sets new World Matchplay tournament average record at 111.04.
Coverage focus: predictions/semifinals vs match-end records and narrative.
9 of 11 outlets skipped it: littler’s path elsewhere included guarding rhythm via record chase..
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Sky Sports
“Littler fired an 111.53 average and nailed 12 maximums in a dominant display”Read the original ↗
UCV Radio runs pre-final semi predictions; Sky Sports, Guardian and ESPN focus on final records
Littler retains Matchplay
Luke Littler defended his World Matchplay title by crushing Gerwyn Price 18-9 in Blackpool at the Winter Gardens on Sunday 26 July 2026, with Littler firing an 111.53 average and nailing 12 maximums in the final.
“Luke Littler thrashes Gerwyn Price 18-9 to defend title with record-breaking display in Blackpool”
Sky Sports said Littler became the first player since Michael van Gerwen to win back-to-back World Matchplay titles, and it described the win as a record-breaking display.S
The Guardian reported Littler averaged 111.53 in the final and set an average for the tournament as a whole of 111.04 to break Phil Taylor’s record of 106.31.
In the final, Littler took a 3-1 lead with a 167 checkout, and a third bullseye finish made it 11-3 before Price cut the deficit to 14-7.
Price, appearing in his first final since 2022, still averaged 104.97 but was “blown away” as Littler finished it off after a 148.
Quotes and rivals’ outlook
After the final, Littler told Sky Sports, “It has been a crazy week - it has been one of the best weeks of my life,” and he added that “The stats may look like it is easy but when you’re on this stage with how hot it is, I’ve definitely played some of the best darts of my life.”S
Price responded to Sky Sports by saying, “Luke [Littler] is one in a million,” and he pointed to “the bull checkouts, the 167” as a “big turning point even though it was early in the game.”
The Guardian framed the result as keeping Littler on course for a clean sweep of trophies in 2026, noting he had already won the World Championship, UK Open, Premier League and the Masters.
Sky Sports said the win enhanced Littler’s hopes of sweeping every ranked major in a calendar year and described him as continuing his run of winning every PDC TV major in 2026.S
Looking ahead, Sky Sports reported that the next PDC ranked TV major is the BoyleSports World Grand Prix from September 28-October 4 at the Mattioli Arena, Leicester.S
Records and what’s next
Littler’s victory also set a tournament-wide benchmark, with The Guardian saying his average for the tournament as a whole of 111.04 broke Phil Taylor’s record of 106.31, and it added that Littler broke his own competition record for 180s by hitting 12 in the final.
“break Phil Taylor’s record of 106.31”
Sky Sports reported that Littler reclaimed the Phil Taylor Trophy and £225,000 first prize, and it said he had broken the £3m barrier during his run to the final.S
The Guardian said the win made Littler only the fourth player in history to win back-to-back World Matchplay titles after Taylor and Michael van Gerwen, who did it most recently in 2016.
Littler said he was now turning his attention to the Pro Tour to qualify for the Player Championship Finals, and he joked about travel plans by saying, “I don’t think my dad is too happy because we were meant to be going to Spain but now we will be going to Leicester for some Pro Tours!”
The Guardian added that Littler will defend the Grand Slam, Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals, while he will also defend the Grand Slam, Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals as he pursues further major targets in 2026.