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. Littler’s performance has not only secured him another headline title but also sent a clear warning to his rivals about the new benchmark he has set. The climax of the tournament saw Littler dominate Gerwyn Price with an 18‑9 victory, posting a final‑match average of 111.53 – a fresh record for a World Matchplay final.
In addition to the commanding win, Littler eclipsed his own record for 180s thrown throughout the event, raising the tally from 64 in 2025 to an astonishing 66 in 2026. By clinching the Blackpool crown, Littler joined an elite group of only four players in the event’s history to claim back‑to‑back titles, and he was the first to do so in a decade. The win also keeps his quest for a clean sweep of the year’s major trophies alive. Already in his trophy cabinet sit the World Darts Championship, the UK Open, the Premier League, the Masters and now the Matchplay.
He will defend the Grand Slam, the Grand Prix and the Players Championship Finals later this season, and he is eyeing a European Championship victory that would give him every premier title on offer. Webster emphasized that Littler’s run at the Matchplay represents the greatest major display in darts history and suggests that the world number one is on a realistic path to holding every major title simultaneously. “I keep asking myself – what can the other players cling to now?
Where is the weakness? What do they do?” Webster asked.
“He is playing fantastically at the moment and forcing his opponents into mistakes. It’s a recipe for dominance.” The commentator noted that Littler appears to set personal challenges within each tournament, constantly pushing his own standards. “The tournament average has been on his mind.
He creates a challenge inside a challenge. Winning a major is huge, but he keeps setting little goals within that victory. Soon he might start leaving 170s on the board because he is simply outclassing his competition.” Webster praised Littler’s confidence and mental fortitude, 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 higher averages and has the will to win.
This has to be the greatest major campaign ever – look at the stats: a tournament average of 111. It’s an incredible achievement, and in twelve months he’ll be looking to eclipse it again.” The pundit even speculated that Littler could capture every major in 2026, mentioning possible targets such as the European Championship and the Players Championship. “It will be tough for everyone else,” he concluded.
For those attempting to chase Littler’s form, the question now is what comes next. He has already shattered records in Blackpool and is focused on the next steps needed to sustain his remarkable run. 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 rarely he has been beaten at the highest level.
Webster believes that any challenger will need to establish entirely new standards to even approach Littler’s level. “It sends a message to the rest of the pack about the standard you have to reach to get anywhere near him.
Every player from this event will take stock of what happened.” He pointed out that even seasoned competitors like Luke Humphries will need to refocus after early exits, while Michael van Gerwen, now down at world number seven, will have work to do after a strong finish to the year. Looking ahead, the next PDC‑ranked televised major is the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix, scheduled for 28 September to 4 October at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena, to be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Littler returns as the defending champion after defeating Luke Humphries in the double‑in, double‑out format last year.
Later in the calendar, the Grand Slam of Darts will be held in Wolverhampton from 14 to 22 November, followed by the World Darts Championship from 10 December to 3 January. Both events will also be shown on Sky Sports, and Littler will be looking to retain his titles in each. In summary, Luke Littler’s performance at the 2026 World Matchplay has set a new bar for excellence in professional darts. His record‑breaking average, unprecedented number of 180s, and back‑to‑back titles have placed him at the forefront of the sport’s elite.
As he continues to defend his existing major crowns and chase the remaining premier trophies, the darts community watches with anticipation to see whether he can truly become the first player to hold every major title simultaneously. The message to his rivals is clear: the standard has been raised, and only those who can meet or exceed it will have a chance to challenge the new king of the oche.