Luke Littler has been indomitable in the sport since winning his maiden Phil Taylor Trophy 12 months ago, holding every Premier ranking event apart from the European Championship. This cavalcade of trophies includes the World Grand Prix, the Grand Slam of Darts, the Players Championship Finals, the World Championship, the World Masters and the UK […]
Luke Littler has been indomitable in the sport since winning his maiden Phil Taylor Trophy 12 months ago, holding every Premier ranking event apart from the European Championship.
This cavalcade of trophies includes the World Grand Prix, the Grand Slam of Darts, the Players Championship Finals, the World Championship, the World Masters and the UK Open.
The 19-year-old returns to Blackpool hoping to maintain his dominance and become just the fourth player after Rod Harrington, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen to retain the title.
“I’d love to put myself in the category of players to go back-to-back at the Matchplay,” confessed Littler ahead of his third appearance at the Winter Gardens.
“I think this ranks around second or third, obviously Ally Pally is at the top, but the Matchplay is very special.
“It’s not far from home. I think I can stay at home for maybe a few games.
“Hopefully I can win it again and go back-to-back.”
In his first appearance two years ago, Littler faced three-time champion Van Gerwen in the opening round, falling to a 10-6 defeat despite averaging over a ton.
Nevertheless, last year the teenage sensation averaged over 105 across the tournament in storming to the title, including a 107.24 average in his 18-13 victory in the final against James Wade to become the youngest-ever winner in Blackpool.
Remarkably, across his five wins in 2025, he found himself behind by five legs or more on three occasions – yet rallied on every occasion to triumph.
“Last year, I turned all the wrongs into rights,” continued Littler, who takes on Niko Springer in his opening match.
“On my debut in 2024, it wasn’t easy, losing to Michael [van Gerwen]. I think I played a good game against Michael still, but that was when he was at his best.
“Last year there were quite a few times I was 5-0 down, but I found a way to get myself out of it and crawl back into the game and get over the line.
“I think most players are probably beaten before they’ve got on stage, which shouldn’t be the case because it’s darts, anything can happen.
“For myself, it’s just that ‘never give up’ mentality.”
Long-format matches – a key feature of the latter stages at the World Matchplay – are one of Littler’s greatest strengths in the sport, possessing an astounding record.
The two-time World Champion has won 30 of his 31 career matches that have lasted 20 legs or longer, only losing to Luke Humphries in the 2023/24 World Championship final when the teenager didn’t hold a Tour Card.
“This is a tough one,” said Littler on the gruelling length of matches in Blackpool.
“As soon as you get the first two games out of the way, the format gets longer and longer, and being on stage for ages, it gets hotter and hotter.
“But I like that. I can grow into the game and get better as the game goes on.”
The world number one holds an incredible record in Premier events this year, also scooping the Premier League and his maiden World Cup of Darts for England alongside Luke Humphries.
He has lost just one ranking match in 2026 – to Niels Zonneveld at the Belgian Darts Open in March – and the acquisitive star has his eyes on more silverware in Blackpool.
“The clean sweep is on,” proclaimed Littler, hoping to become the first player to win every Premier event in the modern era, although he has yet to compete in any Players Championship events in the race for Players Championship Finals spots.
“If I do win the Matchplay, then we’ll have to see about some ProTours as well.
“As the tournament goes on, hopefully I can reach another final, and defend it again.”
The 2026 Betfred World Matchplay official programme, including five exclusive interviews, is available to buy at curtis-sport.com/all-programmes/2026-Betfred-World-Matchplay-p846576620.