Luke Littler defends World Matchplay title, smashes Phil Taylor's records

Luke Littler has once again proven his dominance in darts, successfully defending his World Matchplay title in a sensational performance. The 19-year-old secured his second consecutive Matchplay championship by defeating seventh seed Gerwyn Price 18-9 in the final held in Blackpool.

Littler's victory was not just a triumph in the match but also a record-breaking event. He finished the tournament with an astonishing average of 111.04, shattering the previous tournament record held by Phil Taylor since 2010. Furthermore, his average in the final itself was 111.53, surpassing Taylor's 2013 final record of 111.23.

With this win, Littler claimed the £225,000 prize money, significantly boosting his standing on the PDC's order of merit. He now boasts a total of £3,143,500, placing him £2.13 million ahead of the second-ranked Luke Humphries.

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It's been a crazy week, one of the best weeks of my life with the darts I've played

"It's been a crazy week, one of the best weeks of my life with the darts I've played," Littler told Sky Sports after his victory. He acknowledged the immense pressure of performing on such a stage, noting that despite the impressive statistics, the matches are far from easy.

Gerwyn Price also delivered a strong performance throughout the week, averaging 104.97 in the final. His efforts have seen him climb to fourth in the order of merit and reclaim the top spot as the number one Welsh player, ahead of Jonny Clayton.

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It's been tough, the stats may look like it's easy but when you're on this stage with how hit it is, it's not easy.