Luke Littler claimed his maiden Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title with an 11-8 victory over Nathan Aspinall in Sunday’s showpiece at Butlin’s Minehead Resort.
Littler came into this event as the newly crowned world number one, and he underlined that status by clinching his sixth televised ranking title of the year – a record only matched by Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.
The 18-year-old succumbed to his great rival Luke Humphries in last year’s decider, although he made amends by overcoming a typically tenacious Aspinall to pocket the £120,000 top prize.
Littler looked poised to cruise to victory after storming into an 8-4 lead, but he was forced to fend off a spirited fightback from the Stockport star to triumph with a 103.33 average.
“I’m very proud to lift this trophy, and now it’s all eyes on the big one at the World Championship,” reflected Littler, who boasted a remarkable tournament average of 105.58 across his six matches.
“Nathan has been playing very well for a while, so I just had to dig in at the end there.
“I know I’ve played brilliantly in this tournament, and I’m glad I got the job done.
“Early on in my career I was just being myself, but now I’m starting to let out a bit more emotion and it’s paying off.”
Littler was imperious from start to finish at Minehead, averaging 104, 107 and 102 in wins over Jeffrey de Graaf, Ross Smith and Ricardo Pietreczko to confirm his place in the quarter-finals.
The teenage phenom maintained that relentless standard on Finals Day, producing sparkling displays to triumph in high-quality affairs against Chris Dobey and Gerwyn Price.
Littler averaged 107.88 to complete a 10-5 victory over Dobey – who missed double 18 for a nine-darter in the early stages – before averaging 108.48 and landing ten 180s to topple Price 11-8 in a captivating semi-final.
The World Champion was similarly explosive in the early stages against Aspinall, backing up a brace of 15-darters with an 11-dart hold to establish a buffer that he maintained for much of the contest.
Littler created clear daylight at 8-4 following a trademark mid-match burst, only for Aspinall to produce 87, 127 and 86 checkouts to reduce the arrears to 9-8 and threaten a remarkable fightback.
However, Littler thwarted that prospect with an immediate 14-dart break of throw, before following up a sublime 171 set-up shot with an 88 outshot on double six to cap off another landmark win.
Aspinall was vying to win a third televised ranking title, although his exploits in Minehead have seen him reclaim a place in the world’s top 16 ahead of next month’s World Darts Championship.
Having swept aside Karel Sedlacek and Richard Veenstra to reach Round Three, Aspinall battled his way into the semi-finals with consecutive 10-8 wins over Danny Noppert and Josh Rock.
The Stockport star then ran out a comprehensive 11-2 winner against Jermaine Wattimena in the last four, which confirms his qualification for next year’s Grand Slam of Darts.
“This has been a fantastic tournament for myself,” reflected Aspinall, who climbs six places up to world number 15.
“I’m back in the top 16 where I belong, and that was a big target coming into the weekend.
“I always get amazing support here in Minehead, but I’ve got to congratulate Luke. The guy is incredible.
“He’s a good mate of mine as everyone knows. What he’s done for this game is incredible, and I was happy to share the stage with him tonight.”
Wattimena’s run to a second televised ranking semi-final featured wins over Wesley Plaisier, Ryan Joyce and 2021 runner-up Ryan Searle, and he booked his spot in the last four with a terrific 10-8 victory against James Wade in Sunday afternoon’s quarter-finals.
The Dutchman pinned 62% of his attempts at double to register a fourth consecutive victory over Wade, wrapping up victory with a sensational 156 finish.
Wattimena was joined in the semi-finals by top seed Price, who followed up a trio of convincing wins against Max Hopp, Sebastian Bialecki and Martin Schindler with a 10-6 success against 2018 champion Daryl Gurney in the last eight.
The Welshman reeled off five consecutive legs to topple the Northern Irishman, before succumbing to an impregnable Littler, despite averaging 102.
The Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals marked the culmination of the final ranking event ahead of the 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship, as Littler bids to retain the Sid Waddell Trophy at Alexandra Palace.
Click here for match stats & results.
2025 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals
Sunday November 23
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price 10-6 Daryl Gurney
Luke Littler 10-5 Chris Dobey
Nathan Aspinall 10-8 Josh Rock
Jermaine Wattimena 10-8 James Wade
Evening Session
Semi-Finals
Luke Littler 11-8 Gerwyn Price
Nathan Aspinall 11-2 Jermaine Wattimena
Final
Luke Littler 11-8 Nathan Aspinall