Luke littler โฃClaims Grand Slam of Dartsโข Title,โ Overtakes Luke Humphriesโ as โWorld No. 1
London, UK – November โ17, 2024 – Luke Littler โขhasโข successfully defended โhis Grand โฃSlam of Darts title,โข defeatingโค compatriot Luke Humphries 16-11 in a thrilling final and concurrently claiming the world number one ranking. The 18-year-old’sโค victory marks his eighth major title, equaling Humphries’ career total.
Littler’s โคascent โto the topโฃ spot was securedโฃ by reaching the final, displacing Humphries โwho had held the ranking since January 2024 following his World Championship win.He โthen solidified his position โคwith the โขchampionship โwin.
“It was a strangeโ game forโ me. But it was always clear that it โwould be a close game. I was actually just behind for a โคlong time. The gameโค changer was the 20th leg,” Littler said โคpost-match.
Humphries,nicknamed “Cool Hand Luke,” โinitially โremained competitive,but Littler pulled ahead at 11-9,completing aโ 160 checkout after Humphries missed opportunities onโข the doubles. Littler โฃproved unstoppableโ from โthat point.
Earlier in the day,Littler confidently stated,”I am โthe best in the world,” after a 16-9 semi-final victory over Dutchman โคDanny Noppert.Humphries reached the final after defeating Welshman Gerwynโ Priceโข 16-13. Following his defeat, Humphries vowed, “I willโค win the World Cup.”
Littler’s impressive run includes titles at โthe โคWorld Championship,Premier League,and World matchplay.He will enter theโฃ PDCโค World Darts Championship at alexandra โขPalace (December 11th – January 3rd) as the top seed,โ with a potential final showdown against Humphries inโข theโข expanded โค128-player tournament.
Fromโ a German perspective, Martin Schindler, Ricardo โPietreczko, Niko springer, andโ former World Cup semi-finalistโค Gabriel Clemens โwill carry national โhopes in London.Clemens remains the only German professional to reach a World Cup semi-final, while Schindler became the first โGerman to โbreak into the world’s top 16 this year.
