Image: Taylor Lanning/PDC
Littler Demolishes Price 18-9 With Record-Breaking 111.53 Average to Retain World Matchplay Title
Luke Littler produced the greatest individual performance in World Matchplay history on Sunday evening, thrashing Gerwyn Price 18-9 to successfully defend his title at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
The 19-year-old averaged an extraordinary 111.53 in the final — a new record for a World Matchplay final — and fired 12 maximums to take his tournament tally to 66, breaking his own competition record. His overall tournament average of 111.04 obliterated Phil Taylor's long-standing champion record of 106.31.
In the women's event, Beau Greaves defeated Fallon Sherrock 6-5 in a dramatic last-leg decider to claim a record third Women's World Matchplay crown.
Men's Final: Luke Littler 18-9 Gerwyn Price — A Record-Shattering Display
Littler was devastating from the outset, building a 4-1 lead after the first interval with a stunning 167 checkout on the bullseye among his early highlights. He added back-to-back 11-darters before taking out tops-tops for a third ton-plus finish in the opening nine legs.
By the midway point, Littler had extended his lead to a commanding 11-3, mixing relentless heavy scoring with clinical finishing. He added checkouts of 128 and 127 as Price struggled to find any foothold in the contest.
Price's Fightback Falls Short
To his credit, Price refused to surrender. The Welshman — who averaged an impressive 104.92 himself, the second-highest losing average in a World Matchplay final — mounted a spirited comeback, winning three of five legs in one session to close to within six. But Littler simply had too much, firing a sensational 148 checkout as he surged to 18-9 and a second consecutive title.
Price was gracious in defeat, paying tribute to his opponent: "Luke is one in a million... If anyone wants to boo this kid there is something wrong with them."
Littler was equally emphatic about his own performance: "I have played some of the best darts of my life. I feel like it is the best version of myself."
| Statistic | Luke Littler | Gerwyn Price |
|---|---|---|
| Result | 18 | 9 |
| Average | 111.53 (record) | 104.92 |
| 180s | 12 | — |
| Ton-plus checkouts | 6 (167, 148, 128, 127 and more) | — |
Browse the full Gerwyn Price collection including his darts and accessories. Read our guide: What darts does Gerwyn Price throw?
Records Broken by Littler at the 2026 World Matchplay
Littler's dominant run through the 2026 Betfred World Matchplay rewrote the record books:
- Highest tournament average by a champion: 111.04 (previous: Phil Taylor, 106.31)
- Highest average in a World Matchplay final: 111.53 (previous: Phil Taylor, 111.23 in 2013)
- Most 180s in a World Matchplay: 66 (broke his own record of 64)
- First player to exceed £3 million on the PDC Order of Merit: Total now £3,143,500
- Back-to-back champion: Third man to defend the title after Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen (2016)
Littler's Road to the Title — Every Round
Littler never averaged below 109.53 in any match across the entire tournament — a consistency that has never been seen before at this event:
| Round | Opponent | Score | Average | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | Niko Springer | 10-6 | 109.53 | Trailed 3-2 at first interval |
| R2 | Nathan Aspinall | 11-8 | 113.68 | Nine-dart finish (141 checkout) — 11th in Matchplay history |
| QF | Josh Rock | 16-7 | 109.57 | Dominant quarter-final display |
| SF | Dirk van Duijvenbode | 17-5 | 110.88 | 16 maximums, 117.1 avg at second break |
| Final | Gerwyn Price | 18-9 | 111.53 | 12 maximums, six ton-plus finishes |
Read our full match-by-match coverage: Day 1 results | First round wrap-up | Round 2: Littler's nine-darter & MVG eliminated | Semi-final results
£3 Million and Counting — Littler's PDC Order of Merit Dominance
The £225,000 winner's cheque takes Littler's two-year PDC Order of Merit total to £3,143,500 — more than £2 million clear of second-placed Luke Humphries (£1,008,000). No player has ever held such a commanding lead at the top of the rankings.
In 2026 alone, Littler has now won every PDC televised major he has entered — a level of dominance not seen since Phil Taylor's peak years. At just 19 years old, the question is no longer whether Littler can match Taylor's legacy, but how quickly he can do it.
Women's World Matchplay 2026 — Greaves Claims Record Third Crown
Beau Greaves defeated Fallon Sherrock 6-5 in a thrilling last-leg decider to win a record third Women's World Matchplay title at the Winter Gardens.
The 22-year-old from Doncaster — who has enjoyed a breakthrough 2026 season that includes becoming the first woman to win a PDC Pro Tour event — had to dig deep against a Sherrock side that pushed her all the way in a gripping final.
Women's Final: Greaves 6-5 Sherrock
Sherrock broke serve in the third leg, but Greaves levelled at 2-2 before producing a sensational 120 checkout in a 12-dart leg to move ahead. Greaves secured a crucial break of throw in leg eight with double two, but Sherrock refused to go quietly — hitting an 11-dart break of throw and a 70 checkout on double 16 to force a decider.
In the final leg, Greaves hit a crucial 180 and a brilliant 145 checkout to leave 56, before sealing victory on double 10. It was her third title in four years, adding to victories in 2023 and 2024.
Greaves said afterwards: "I'm not one to celebrate but it was relief in the end. Fallon is a great lass and an even better darts player." She added: "I was nervous, but that kind of pressure is a privilege. I just love my life. I love playing darts."
| Statistic | Beau Greaves | Fallon Sherrock |
|---|---|---|
| Result | 6 | 5 |
| Average | 88.63 | 87.84 |
For Sherrock, it was a third consecutive Women's Matchplay final and a third runner-up finish — she lost to Greaves in 2024 (6-3) and to Lisa Ashton in 2025.
Women's World Matchplay 2026 — Full Results
Quarter-Finals
| Match | Score | Winner Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Beau Greaves vs Kirsi Viinikainen | 5-1 | 91.91 |
| Gemma Hayter vs Vicky Pruim | 5-4 | 79.01 |
| Lisa Ashton vs Rhian O'Sullivan | 5-2 | 81.07 |
| Fallon Sherrock vs Deta Hedman | 5-0 | 90.55 |
Semi-Finals
| Match | Score | Winner Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Beau Greaves vs Gemma Hayter | 5-4 | 86.74 |
| Fallon Sherrock vs Lisa Ashton | 5-1 | 85.40 |
Final
| Match | Score | Winner Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Beau Greaves vs Fallon Sherrock | 6-5 | 88.63 |
Women's World Matchplay 2026 Prize Money
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| Winner | £15,000 |
| Runner-up | £8,000 |
| Semi-finalists | £4,500 |
| Quarter-finalists | £2,000 |
| Total fund | £40,000 |
Men's World Matchplay 2026 Prize Money
| Round | Prize |
|---|---|
| Winner | £225,000 |
| Runner-up | £125,000 |
| Semi-finalists | £65,000 |
| Quarter-finalists | £35,000 |
| Second round | £22,500 |
| First round | £12,500 |
| Total fund | £1,000,000 |
Shop World Matchplay Players
Get kitted out with the same darts, flights, shirts and accessories used by the stars of Blackpool:
- Luke Littler Shop — Darts, flights & accessories
- Gerwyn Price Shop — Darts & gear
- Nathan Aspinall Shop
- Josh Rock Shop — Darts & accessories
- Gary Anderson Shop — Darts & gear
- Luke Humphries Shop — Darts & gear
- Michael van Gerwen Shop
- Stephen Bunting Shop
- Rob Cross Shop
- Browse All Players
Shop the semi-finalists and quarter-finalists: Dirk van Duijvenbode | Gian van Veen | Ross Smith | James Wade | Danny Noppert | Ryan Searle | Niko Springer
Looking for dart cases, dartboards, or shafts? Free UK delivery on orders over £50. Shop the latest Target darts and sale items at ArrowHeadz.
Read our full World Matchplay 2026 coverage: Day 1 results | First round wrap-up | Round 2: Littler's nine-darter | Menzies withdrawal | Semi-final results | Full draw, schedule & how to watch
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the World Matchplay 2026?
Luke Littler won the 2026 Betfred World Matchplay, defeating Gerwyn Price 18-9 in the final at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Sunday 26 July. Littler averaged 111.53 and hit 12 maximums in a record-breaking performance.
What records did Luke Littler break at the 2026 World Matchplay?
Littler broke multiple records: highest tournament average by a champion (111.04, beating Phil Taylor's 106.31), highest average in a World Matchplay final (111.53), most 180s in a single World Matchplay (66), and became the first player to exceed £3 million on the PDC Order of Merit.
Who won the Women's World Matchplay 2026?
Beau Greaves won the 2026 Women's World Matchplay, defeating Fallon Sherrock 6-5 in a last-leg decider. It was Greaves' record third title (2023, 2024, 2026) and her average of 88.63 edged Sherrock's 87.84 in a thrilling contest.
Has Luke Littler won back-to-back World Matchplay titles?
Yes. Littler successfully defended his 2025 World Matchplay title by beating Price 18-9 in the 2026 final. He became only the third man to retain the World Matchplay after Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen (who last did it in 2016).
How much did Luke Littler earn at the 2026 World Matchplay?
Littler earned £225,000 for winning the 2026 World Matchplay, taking his two-year PDC Order of Merit total to £3,143,500 — the first player in history to exceed £3 million on the ranking system.
What was Gerwyn Price's average in the World Matchplay final?
Price averaged 104.92 in the final — the second-highest losing average in World Matchplay final history. Despite a spirited fightback from 11-3 down, he was unable to match Littler's extraordinary 111.53 average.
