Overview: A landmark night in World Grand Prix history
The World Grand Prix Darts 2025 in Leicester delivered a moment that will be etched in memory for a long time. English teenager Luke Littler staged a remarkable comeback to topple former world champion Gerwyn Price in a gripping quarter-final, capping a match that swung on every single leg. The 18-year-old’s 152 checkout in the deciding leg, paired with a fearless surge late on, announced his arrival on darts’ biggest stage in emphatic fashion.
From the first darts of the evening, it was clear this would be more than a routine clash. Price, the 2020 World Grand Prix winner, started confidently, building an early lead and applying pressure with sharp finishing. Littler, however, refused to wilt. The match became a study in momentum shifts, mental resilience, and the raw nerve of a world-class showdown.
Turning point: Littler’s fightback from 2-0 down
Price looked poised to bid farewell in straight sets as the Welshman took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five-sets format. The momentum appeared to be slipping away from Littler, but the youngster demonstrated a growing maturity beyond his years. He found a foothold in the third set, then wrested back the fourth with a series of clinical outs that not only trimmed the deficit but also sapped the authority from Price.
In many duels between a veteran world champion and a rising star, the comeback would be a mere glimmer. Not this time. Littler harnessed a combination of nerve control and precise finishing, dragging the tie back into the fifth-set drama that the World Grand Prix is famous for. The comeback wasn’t a flourish; it was a calculated charge that refused to be dismissed.
The drama of the deciding leg: 152 checkout and sudden-death heroics
As the match entered its decider, both players found the doubles elusive and the pressure palpable. Then Littler—under the bright glare of the Leicester crowd—delivered a moment that will be replayed for years. With the leg on the line and the pressure of a quarter-final victory on his shoulders, he landed a 152 checkout to seal the frame and complete a memorable comeback. The crowd erupted as the shot fell into double 8, but Price refused to go quietly.
Price, showing the temperament that marked his world title run, replied with a staggering 156 finish in the same fifth set to push the match into a sudden-death leg. In that final, nerve-wracking moment, Price was afforded the advantage of throwing first, a small edge that can swing the balance in a tight, pressure-filled decider. Yet Littler’s poise held. Neither player could quite land the opening double with consistency, and the game’s psychology swung back and forth until Littler found double 16 to seal the win.
The moment of triumph was more than a scoreline. It was a statement from Littler—an 18-year-old showing he can compete with the sport’s best on the world’s biggest stages. Price, meanwhile, left the stage applauding, sharing a warm embrace with his opponent as respect for a high-caliber match was on full display.
What this means for Littler and the rest of the event
With the victory, Littler earned a place in the World Grand Prix semi-finals, where he will face Wales’ Jonny Clayton. The clash of styles between an ambitious young talent and a seasoned Welsh challenger promises more fireworks, and fans will be eager to see how Littler’s bravery in big moments translates into another high-pressure test on the oche. The quarter-final triumph adds to the growing narrative around Littler as a potential long-term presence among darts’ elite, a storyline that should excite neutrals and supporters alike.
Key takeaways for players and fans
- Experience matters, but youth can triumph: Littler’s resilience in this match underscored how a rising talent can thrive against experienced rivals.
- Clutches in the final leg can redefine a career: The 152 checkout demonstrated that finishing power remains the essential weapon in darts’ highest-pressure rounds.
- Price’s quality remains undeniable: Even in defeat, his 156 finish and the late surge reinforced why he is a perennial threat in top-level darts.
As the World Grand Prix continues, Littler’s sensational quarter-final performance will be remembered as a defining moment—one that could herald a new era for English darts and hint at a long, bright journey for the 18-year-old on the sport’s grandest stages.
