Teenager Luke Littler is targeting the world No 1 spot before the Grand Slam of Darts concludes. In just two years he has gone from World Championship debutant and qualifier to world champion, collecting seven major titles by the age of 18 and changing expectations of the sport — yet the No 1 ranking remains out of reach.
That position is currently held by Luke Humphries, but Littler, the defending Grand Slam champion, believes he can overhaul him by the end of the tournament. After finishing the group stage unbeaten with a win over Daryl Gurney, Littler said it was time to focus on the business end of the event and try to defend his title. He added that Humphries sits on the other side of the draw, that he has not been following the bracket closely, and that if he reaches the final he will secure the top ranking.
The reason is prize money: Humphries leads the PDC Order of Merit, but the gap is under £75,000. The Grand Slam’s prize distribution means the difference between winner and runner-up exceeds the current margin between the two players, so Littler only needs to make the final in Wolverhampton to claim No 1.
The knockout stage brings longer formats. Littler meets Wessel Nijman in a best-of-19 legs last-16 tie, televised live on Sky Sports; the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final extend to best-of-31 legs. Littler, who could meet Michael van Gerwen or Josh Rock later in the event, says he expects to improve over the longer matches and will put in the practice. He thrives on coming on after a break, he believes those mid-game pauses will suit him, and he expects to produce much stronger darts than he did in the group phase.
Sky Sports pundit Mark Webster backed Littler’s chances, noting the teenager’s appetite for the world No 1 spot and his comfort in tighter formats. Webster highlighted Littler’s resilience — citing his comeback at the World Matchplay — and predicted that composure and fighting spirit will serve him well against Nijman.
Who will lift the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts? Coverage runs throughout the week from 7pm on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming available on NOW.