Luke Littler wins second darts title in a week and fires warning | Other | Sport

Luke Littler won his second darts title in the span of three days, adding the Players Championship 20 crown to his World Series of Darts Finals victory.

Littler comfortably beat Michael Smith 11-4 to claim his maiden World Series of Darts Finals title in Amsterdam, banking £80,000 in the process with a 102.21 average on Sunday.

Then on Tuesday, he backed that up by defeating Stephen Bunting 8-7 via a thrilling deciding leg for his ninth title of the year in Wigan.

Littler had raced into a 5-1 lead against Bunting, before allowing the reigning Masters champion back into the match as the pair went into a 15th and final frame locked at 7-7.

The 17-year-old had defeated world champion Luke Humphries 6-2 in the quarter-finals, having overcome Kevin Doets by that same scoreline in the last 16.

His dominance extended to a 7-2 victory over Dave Chisnall in the semi-finals, before adding another £15,000 to his earnings with success over Bunting for a third Players Championship title of the year.

“I had to switch on,” Littler said after seeing off Bunting’s comeback attempt. “Towards the end I was getting a bit tired but I was just saying to myself: ‘One last push’. Stephen put everything he could on me but as soon as I settled for the 124 I knew I would stick my double 10.

“I think I played really well, I came here with loads of confidence, it’s probably the first Pro Tour I have actually enjoyed playing apart from the first one (where) I won. But it’s been good today and I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

When asked about changing his stance depending on the floor at each venue, but still winning at a canter, Littler had a short but clear warning for his rivals: “It’s just what I do.”

The teenager also confirmed that he would be skipping some events towards the end of the year as a result of the busy schedule. “I’ll just pick and choose,” he explained. “My manager will do what’s best for me and I will tell him if I am not up for it or too tired. But there is still plenty more to win at the back end of the year.”

He is now 12 matches unbeaten and bolstered a net worth that reportedly nears the £700,000 mark. He earned £200,000 for finishing runner-up behind Humphries at Alexandra Palace and another £275,000 for winning the Premier League.

Pro Tour and World Series wins further added to his winnings during the first professional campaign of his career and the latest success in Wigan could see his total soar to £650,000.