Luke Littler has hailed his historic run at the World Matchplay as "one of the best weeks of his life" after a record-breaking 18-9 victory over Gerwyn Price in Blackpool. This triumph capped a remarkable week where Littler shattered multiple records.

Littler, at just 19 years old, opened his campaign with a stunning 109 average against Niko Springer, followed by an impressive 113 average and a nine-darter against Nathan Aspinall. He continued his dominance with another 109 average against Josh Rock, before decisively defeating Dirk van Duijvenbode in the semi-finals.

• Historic Achievements:
  • First player in a decade to retain the title at the Winter Gardens.
  • Fired an 111.53 average, surpassing the previous tournament scoring record held by Phil Taylor since 2010.
  • Broke his own record for most 180s, hitting 66 throughout the week.
  • Crossed the £3m earnings barrier during this tournament.

Reflecting on his performance, Littler stated, "It has been a crazy week - it has been one of the best weeks of my life. The darts I have played - it has not been easy. It has been tough."

Looking ahead, Littler plans to compete in the Pro Tours instead of a planned trip to Spain, as he aims to defend his title at the upcoming Players Championship Finals in Minehead. He expressed the pressure of expectations, saying, "If I don't qualify I will get grilled, if I qualify I will get grilled anyway."

The next PDC ranked TV major is the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, set to take place from September 28 to October 4 at the Mattioli Arena, Leicester, where Littler returns as the defending champion after last year's victory over Luke Humphries.