Sky Sports Darts analyst Mark Webster has hailed Luke Littler’s recent triumph at the World Matchplay as possibly the most impressive major campaign the sport has ever witnessed, and the performance has sent a clear signal to his rivals. Littler capped a record‑setting week by overwhelming Gerwyn Price 18‑9 in the final, posting a staggering average of 111.53 – the highest ever recorded in a Matchplay final. In addition, he surpassed his own record for total 180s in a single tournament, raising the tally from 64 in 2025 to an astonishing 66 in 2026.

The Blackpool victory placed Littler among an elite group: he became only the fourth player in the history of the event to claim back‑to‑back titles and the first to do so in ten years. The win also keeps his ambition alive to sweep all of the year’s major trophies. Already in his cabinet sit the World Darts Championship, the UK Open, the Premier League, the Masters and now the Matchplay. He will defend the Grand Slam, Grand Prix and the Players Championship Finals later this season, and he is eyeing a European Championship win that would give him every premier title on offer.

Webster believes Littler’s dominance at the Matchplay represents the greatest major display ever seen and suggests that the world number one is increasingly likely to hold every major trophy simultaneously. “I keep asking myself – what do the other players cling to now?

Where is the weakness? What can they do?” he asked after the final. “He’s playing superbly at the moment and forcing his opponents into mistakes. It’s a recipe for total domination.” The commentator also noted that Littler seems to set personal challenges within each tournament, constantly pushing his own standards higher.

“The tournament average has always been on his mind. He gives himself a challenge inside a challenge,” Webster explained.

“Winning a major is huge, but he adds little goals within that victory. Soon we may see him leaving 170s on the board because he’s simply outclassing his competition.” Webster praised Littler’s mental state, describing him as being in a "completely dominant mood" and trusting every aspect of his game.

“You have to admire that. We might think he can’t improve any further, but he will keep trying.

He craves high tournament averages and has the will to win,” the analyst added. “Statistically, this is the greatest major campaign ever – a tournament average of 111.

That’s an incredible achievement, and in twelve months he’ll be looking to eclipse it.” Looking ahead, Webster speculated that Littler could realistically capture every major title in 2026, perhaps adding the European Championship or the Players Championship to his résumé. “I half expect it,” he said.

“It will be tough for everyone else.” For those attempting to chase Littler, the question becomes: what’s the next step? The records have fallen, Blackpool has been dominated, and Littler’s focus is already on the next challenge. His last loss in a major that extended beyond 20 legs came at the hands of Luke Humphries in the 2024 World Darts Championship, underscoring how rare defeats have become for him. Webster warned that rivals will need to raise their standards dramatically just to get close.

“It sends a message to the rest of the pack about the benchmark you have to reach to be anywhere near him,” he said. “Every player from this event will take stock of what happened.” He singled out Humphries, noting that an early‑round exit will force a refocus, and mentioned Michael van Gerwen, who has slipped to world No. 7 and will need to rebuild after a strong finish to the year. The next major on the PDC calendar is the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, taking place from September 28 to October 4 at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena, broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Littler returns as the defending champion after his victory over Humphries in the previous year’s double‑in, double‑out format. Following that, the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton (November 14‑22) and the World Darts Championship (December 10‑January 3) will also be aired on Sky Sports, with Littler aiming to retain both titles. In summary, Luke Littler’s performance at the Matchplay has not only rewritten the record books but also reshaped the competitive landscape of professional darts. His unprecedented averages, record 180 count, and back‑to‑back titles have set a new bar for excellence.

As the season progresses, the darts community will watch closely to see whether anyone can mount a credible challenge, or whether Littler will continue his march toward an unprecedented clean sweep of every major trophy in the sport.