- Luke Littler claimed his maiden UK Open title with a demolition of James Wade
- Wade, who has won it thrice, admitted he had been ‘absolutely bashed to bits’
Luke Littler demolished James Wade in the UK Open final to lift his fifth major title and claim a £110,000 prize.
The Nuke battered Wade 11-2 – and was 9-0 up at one stage – in Minehead on Sunday night to scoop up his first major since the World Championship.
He admitted that Manchester United’s 2-1 FA Cup exit to Fulham on the same evening gave him the inspiration to scoop up another major after triumphs in the Premier League, Grand Slam, and World Series finals last year.
‘In the semi-final second break I heard that Manchester United lost so it spurred me on a bit,’ he said.
‘I won the next five and I got the job done. Before I walked on it went to penalties.
‘It’s obviously one I’ve wanted to win. It’s my third time here. I came here two years ago as a 16-year-old. Last year quarter-final and I’ve gone two better this year to win it.
Luke Littler beat James Wade 11-2 to claim the UK Open title and a £110,000 reward
The 18-year-old hit nine 180s and an average of 101.51 as he almost did a clean sweep of legs
James Wade admitted Littler ‘bashed him to bits’ but hailed a ‘great step in the right direction’
‘I had a job to do. I just wanted to pick up the trophy. It’s one I can tick off the list now.
‘I’m looking at the Premier League making the top four so I go to the O2.
‘But now it’s looking to Brighton (on Thursday), the ProTour in Antwerp. It’s going to be a long few weeks.
‘I’ve said plenty of times, my goal was to win one of every major.’
Littler hit nine 180s and an average of 101.51 to sweep aside his 41-year-old adversary, who has won the UK Open three times but not since 2011.
Wade overcame Luke Humphries 10-9 in the quarter-finals – bizarrely licking his neck as they embraced – and earned £50,000 for his exploits.
After losing out in the final, he lavished praise on the 18-year-old.
‘He absolutely bashed me to bits but what can you do against that?
‘He was the far superior player, as much as it kills me to admit it, but it is what it is. For me, it’s a great step in the right direction.
‘Fair play to Luke – at the moment, he’s probably the best or the second-best darts player in the world comfortably.
‘It’s been a long time since I got to a final. I played well in the semi, in the final he just totally gassed me out.’
