Littler Cements World No. 1 Status with Minehead Victory

Luke Littler has captured his first Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, defeating Nathan Aspinall 11-8 in the final at Butlin’s Minehead Resort. Entering the tournament as the newly crowned world number one, the 18-year-old secured the £120, 000 top prize and his sixth televised ranking title of the year—a record previously achieved only by Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.

The Final: A Test of Nerve
While Littler stormed to an early 8-4 lead, he faced a serious challenge from "The Asp." Aspinall mounted a fierce comeback with finishes of 87, 127, and 86 to narrow the gap to 9-8. However, Littler halted the momentum with a crucial 14-dart break and sealed the win with a sublime 171 set-up and an 88 checkout on double six, finishing the match with a 103.33 average.

Statistical Dominance
Littler’s path to the trophy was defined by relentless scoring. He boasted a remarkable tournament average of 105.58 across six matches. His "Finals Day" performance was particularly imperious:
Quarter-Final: Defeated Chris Dobey 10-5 (107.88 average).
Semi-Final: Defeated Gerwyn Price 11-8 (108.48 average with ten 180s).

Aspinall Returns to the Top 16
Despite the loss, it was a successful weekend for Nathan Aspinall. His run to the final—which included a decisive 11-2 victory over Jermaine Wattimena in the semis—has propelled him back into the world’s top 16 (now ranked 15th) just ahead of the World Championship. He also confirmed his qualification for next year's Grand Slam of Darts.

Notable Dutch Performance
Jermaine Wattimena enjoyed a strong run to the semi-finals. The Dutchman defeated Wesley Plaisier, Ryan Joyce, and Ryan Searle before booking his spot in the last four with a 10-8 win over James Wade. His quarter-final victory against Wade was highlighted by a sensational 156 checkout and a 62% success rate on doubles.