Luke Littler wins World Series of Darts Finals with victory over Michael Smith in Amsterdam
Luke Littler showcased his remarkable talent at the World Series of Darts Finals, achieving a convincing win against the 2023 world champion, Michael Smith, in Amsterdam.
Littler entered the tournament as the number one seed, having already secured victories in Bahrain and Poland during the World Series. With his win in the Dutch capital, he achieved a remarkable third consecutive triumph.
The 17-year-old won the £80,000 grand prize in his first appearance in the tournament by defeating Smith with an 11-4 score. Earlier on Sunday, he also achieved victories against Chris Dobey (10-7) and the local favorite, Michael van Gerwen (11-4).
Following his victory over Dutch icon Raymond van Barneveld on Saturday, Littler delivered an impressive performance at AFAS Live. He took down Van Gerwen while achieving an average of 107.95, securing nine consecutive legs in the process. He then achieved a similar triumph against Smith.
"I'm just thrilled to be standing here with the trophy after a long day," Littler remarked. "I felt comfortable this evening, and I played exceptionally throughout the entire weekend."
A year ago, I was competing on the Development Tour. People were starting to recognize my name, but during the World Championship, everyone was aware of who I was.
"I'm determined to continue progressing and achieve even more success. I've got a hectic schedule ahead, but I'm fully prepared for it."
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Following an exchange of breaks that brought the score to 3-3 at the beginning of the final, 'The Nuke' went on an impressive streak, winning seven consecutive legs and pushing the former world champion to the edge of losing.
Smith, who had previously defeated Rob Cross 10-9 in a thrilling quarter-final and then overcame Peter Wright 11-6 in the semi-finals, managed to score a leg with an impressive 170 checkout. However, Littler sealed the victory by finishing on double 10, just as he usually does, to take home the title.
"I really didn't contribute anything in the final," Smith expressed with disappointment. "It just didn't work out for me, but I feel fortunate to have made it to the final."
"I've added another runner-up trophy to my collection, and I've amassed quite a few over the years. However, this weekend has set me up nicely. After taking some time off, I'm now eager to dive back into training and put in the effort for the remainder of the year."
Darts World Series Finals: Sunday Recap
**Afternoon Matches - Quarter-Finals** In the afternoon session of the quarter-finals, Luke Littler triumphed over Chris Dobey with a score of 10-7. Meanwhile, Michael van Gerwen squeezed past Luke Humphries in a nail-biting match that ended 10-9. Peter Wright secured a solid victory against Daryl Gurney, winning 10-4, while Michael Smith narrowly defeated Rob Cross with a close score of 10-9.
Evening Matches - Semi-Finals Luke Littler defeated Michael van Gerwen with a score of 11-4, while Michael Smith took down Peter Wright with a score of 11-6.
Luke Littler triumphed over Michael Smith with a score of 11-4 in the final match.
Sky Sports: What's Coming Up Next?
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The next event on the Sky Sports darts schedule is the 2024 BoyleSports World Grand Prix.
The yearly tournament, worth £600,000, is scheduled to be held at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester from October 7 to 13. During this event, 32 of the world's best players will battle for the prestigious title that Luke Humphries claimed in 2023.
Humphries marked his first TV ranking title by defeating Gerwyn Price in last year's event, and the current world No. 1 will come back later this year to defend his championship.
Six-time champion Michael van Gerwen will also be in the spotlight, while the talented young sensation Luke Littler is getting ready to make his double-start debut in the East Midlands.
This year, there will be a different format compared to last year. The semi-finals on Saturday, October 12, will be played as a best-of-nine sets match. Meanwhile, the final on Sunday, October 13, will follow a best-of-11 sets format.
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