MERCILESS LITTLER STORMS TO LADBROKES UK OPEN GLORY

Luke Littler produced a darting demolition job to dispatch James Wade 11-2 and triumph in Sunday’s Ladbrokes UK Open final.

Littler put on a darting clinic to clinch his maiden UK Open crown at Butlin’s Minehead Resort, averaging 101 and landing nine 180s in Sunday’s showpiece to clinch the £110,000 top prize.

Littler whitewashed Wade in eight straight legs when the pair met during last month’s Winmau World Masters, and history appeared to be repeating itself when he raced into a 9-0 lead.

The left-hander halted his 17-leg losing run against Littler to avoid another whitewash, but the Warrington wonderkid capped off another imperious campaign to clinch his fifth Premier televised title.

“This is a tournament I really wanted to win,” admitted Littler, who boasted a staggering tournament average of 104.35 across his six matches.

“It’s my third time at the UK Open. I came here as a 16-year-old a couple of years ago, I made the quarter-finals last year, and now I’ve gone three better this year to win it!

“I had a job to do tonight. I just wanted to pick up the trophy, and it’s one that I can tick off the list now!”

Littler had opened his campaign with a thrilling victory over 2017 champion Peter Wright in Friday’s fourth round, averaging 108.69 to prevail in a last-leg shoot-out.