Teenage sensation Luke Littler’s World Darts Championship fairytale ends in defeat as Luke Humphries wins final

Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler fell just short in his bid to become the youngest winner of the World Darts Championship, after being beaten 7-4 in the final by Luke Humphries on Wednesday.

The 16-year-old has become a global star since making his tournament debut this year, with the teenage sensation defying the odds by beating opponents with decades’ more experience.

However, current world No. 1 Humphries proved one step too far as Littler’s fairytale journey came to an end.

Littler Humphries with Sky Sports News

“It’s been unbelievable,” Littler told Sky Sports in his post-match interview, before analysing his own performance in the final.

“The one negative was I lost too many legs on my throw, so Luke [Humphries] could break me.”

“Every game’s been good, just that one really annoyed me.”

Littler’s performances at this year’s competition have catapulted the youngster into a different stratosphere, where he’s had to quickly learn to deal with the pressure that comes with being the man of the moment.

In the build-up to the final, social media was awash with well wishes for Littler, who has infatuated the general public with his laid back style and wonderfully normal approach to life.

Talk of the youngster celebrating his wins with kebabs endeared himself to the masses as he took all the attention in his stride.

He continued to produce moments of magic in a pulsating final which saw momentum swing between the two world class players.

The crowd inside Alexandra Palace was very much in Littler’s corner and the teenager had led the match 4-2 at one point.

However, Littler wasted a golden opportunity to make it 5-2, allowing Humphries to roar back into the match.

The relentless Humphries went on to win the last five sets in the match, punishing Littler every time his standards slipped. The 28-year-old fell to his knees when his final dart hit its target.

“I could not put into words how great this feels,” an emotional Humphries told Sky Sports.

“In the back of my mind throughout the whole of the day I’m just thinking ‘get this one now because he’s going to dominate world darts soon.’”

“[Littler] is an incredible talent but I had to win this one tonight and he’s going to win plenty I’m sure.”