Littler wins to secure world number one ranking

Luke Littler will become world number one for the first time after booking his place in the Grand Slam of Darts final in Wolverhampton.

The world champion's 16-9 victory over the Netherlands' Danny Noppert means he will overtake rival Luke Humphries to top the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) world rankings regardless of the result of Sunday evening's final.

At just 18, Littler will become the youngest PDC world number one, surpassing Michael van Gerwen who achieved the feat aged 24 in 2014.

Littler's earnings over the two-year period that determine the Order of Merit total £1,770,500 after making the final, a figure that will rise to £1,850,000 if he wins.

With Humphries defending the money he won from triumphing in this tournament in 2023, even if he lifts the trophy again, he will have earned £1,769,000 - just short of fellow Englishman Littler.

"It is has not even been two years that I've been on the tour and I'm already world number one," Littler told Sky Sports.

"That is job done - I am world number one - but there is a bigger match tonight.

"I am the best in the world. No matter what, I've said it throughout the year that Luke Humphries is the best in the world.

"No matter if you go out in the first, second or third round you are the best in the world."

The rankings are determined by the amount of prize money a player has won from ranking tournaments over a two-year period.

"Being world number one is some achievement for Luke Littler regardless of the result tonight and doing it in less than two years is something remarkable," former BDO world champion Mark Webster told Sky Sports.

"He knows how to get it done. He doesn't have bad spells - he does lose in some tournaments and it will continue to happen - but he's just a brilliant talent."

Littler had to overcome a sluggish start of his own and a blistering one from Noppert in his semi-final and found himself 8-6 down.

However, he rallied in impressive style, winning 10 of the next 11 legs and ending with an average of 102.62 to complete his rise to the summit of world darts.

Humphries had clung on to the number one spot for a little longer with a magnificent display to beat Gerwyn Price 16-13 in an enthralling first semi-final.

The 2024 world champion averaged 106.25 and hit 16 180s and, with the rankings not officially updating until midnight, will have the chance to get one over on defending champion Littler in his final match as world number one this evening.