Luke Littler crowned Australian Darts Masters champion with dominant Mike de Decker win

Luke Littler has been crowned the winner of the Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong. Twelve months on from his final defeat to Gerwyn Price, the reigning World Champion made no mistake this time, defeating debutant Mike De Decker, who marked his first World Series appearance with a sensational run to the final.

Littler, who survived a first-round scare on Friday against Haupai Puha (6-5), returned on finals day to dispatch Damon Heta 6-3 in the quarter-finals, Stephen Bunting 7-4 in the semi-finals, before overcoming De Decker by 8-4 in the showpiece.

It is Littler’s fifth title of the season. Since claiming the World Championship in January, The Nuke has lifted the UK Open in March, the Belgian Darts Open in Wieze, and last month’s World Matchplay crown. This triumph marks his third World Series success, following titles in Bahrain and Poland in 2024.

Quarter-Finals

Finals day in Wollongong began with eight players battling for the latest World Series title, with all quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final played in one session.

Stephen Bunting produced a dominant display to whitewash World Series debutant Josh Rock 6-0 in the opening match. The No.1 seed struck first with a 129 checkout to break, followed by an 18-darter to hold. Rock faltered in leg three, failing to finish within six visits, allowing The Bullet to extend his lead with another 18-dart leg. Bunting then found a 15-darter for 4-0 before Rock squandered his first chance at double in leg five. Bunting punished with a 96 checkout, then sealed the rout with another 18-darter.

Littler followed by booking his semi-final spot with a 6-3 win over Damon Heta. The teenage sensation started with an 11-darter, but Heta hit back with a 58 finish and an 11-darter of his own to lead 2-1. Littler responded instantly with a 70 checkout to break back, before edging a scrappy fifth leg in 23 darts. The next two legs went with throw before Littler produced a superb 104 checkout to break, and sealed the victory in style with another 11-darter.

Chris Dobey ended Gerwyn Price’s title defence with a 6-4 victory, ensuring a new name on the trophy. Hollywood was the more clinical on doubles, while Price was left to rue early misses — squandering three break chances in the opening leg and two more in the second. Dobey raced 3-0 ahead before Price hit 49 to get on the board and fired back-to-back 13-darters to level at 3-3. Dobey regained the lead with a 14-darter, but Price levelled again at 4-4 via a 58 checkout. The Englishman, however, closed it out with legs of 15 and 15 darts.

The final quarter-final saw Mike De Decker stun World No.1 Luke Humphries 6-0 with a brilliant display averaging 103.66 and a 46.2% checkout rate. The Belgian opened with a 14-darter before landing a spectacular 167 checkout to break. A second 18-darter followed for 3-0 before De Decker reeled off a 12-darter, then closed out the match with legs of 17 and 14 darts for one of the performances of his career.

Semi-Finals

Littler was the first to reach the final, defeating Stephen Bunting 7-4 in a match where one break proved decisive. The opening nine legs all went with throw, Littler starting with an 11-darter while Bunting replied with his own 11-dart leg in the fourth.

After the interval at 3-3, Littler edged ahead with a 12-darter before Bunting hit a 13-darter to level. The key moment came when Bunting missed tops for a break, allowing Littler to take out 68 for 5-4. A superb 121 checkout for a break followed, before Littler closed out with a 17-darter.

De Decker continued his dream debut run by defeating Chris Dobey 7-4. The Belgian broke in the opening leg with a 68 checkout but missed five darts for 2-0, allowing Dobey to level. From there, the next six legs all went with throw until De Decker struck a crucial break in leg nine, pinning 100 after Dobey had missed two chances in the previous leg. A 15-darter made it 6-4, and De Decker sealed his place in the final with a 17-darter.

Final

In the final, it was very tense at the start between Littler and De Decker but soon became a procession. Littler missed 124 to begin the tie but he returned to go 1-0 up. He followed that up with an 80 checkout for 2-0.

Littler missed the 170 and De Decker finally got off the mark at 2-1 down. He made it 2-2 from there as despite it looking like Littler was going to steamroll into the distance, he didn't as De Decker kept in touch. Littler hit a 143 checkout to make it 3-2 but that was just a hold of throw. A 45 checkout saw him break for 4-2.

Littler pinned double 16 to hold to make it 5-2 and go three away from the title. De Decker finally stopped the rot but the imperious march seemed ominous despite a 13-dart salvo. Littler missed two visits to go 7-3 up and De Decker held with a 57 checkout for 6-4. Littler hit an 81 checkout though on the bull to go one away. He claimed it from there. A solid opener for De Decker on the World Series while Littler continues being that player.