Darts, drums, and public life
Double world champion Luke Littler has reached the World Matchplay final after dominant wins at the Winter Gardens. He has posted high averages and hit multiple maximums, while Dirk van Duijvenbode and Gerwyn Price have advanced to the semi-finals and final schedule.
Littler has defended his Betfred World Matchplay title with an 18-9 victory over Gerwyn Price in Blackpool. He has set a final average of 111.53 and a tournament average of 111.04, breaking Phil Taylor’s previous marks. The 19-year-old remains on track for a calendar-year haul of major titles, while Netflix has announced a reality darts show launching later this year.
The world champion has unveiled a mural in Warrington at the Golden Square Shopping Centre to celebrate his string of major titles this year, with his nan spotting the tribute first from a passing bus. He has just clinched the World Matchplay and aims for a clean sweep of majors, eyeing further glory in Orlando before the World Series.
Luke Littler, 19, remains the sport’s global face as he pursues a calendar-year sweep of all 10 major televised darts titles. He has been booed by crowds in Amsterdam and previously in Germany and the UK. He says he is prepared to skip Netherlands events if boos persist, while referees have intervened to curb disruptions.