The Nuke’s Wollongong Triumph: Littler Storms to Australian Darts Masters Glory
- Darts Central
- Aug 9
- 6 min read
Luke Littler continued his superb form by storming to the Australian Darts Masters title in Wollongong, his first World Series crown of the season and the third of his career.
After a below-par opening round, ‘The Nuke’ turned on the style on finals day to claim the £30,000 top prize.
Here’s how the final session unfolded…
Quarter-Final 1: 🏴 Stephen Bunting 6-0 🇬🇧 Josh Rock
Surprisingly, ‘The Bullet’ cruised to a 6-0 whitewash despite posting the lower average.
A 12-dart break and 129 finish set Bunting on his way, followed by two 18-darters for a 3-0 lead. He held in 15 darts to make it 4-0 with Rock still without a shot at double.
Rock missed double top for 107 in leg five, punished by Bunting’s last-dart double 8. A missed bull in the next leg allowed Bunting to seal victory with another last-dart double 8 for a 47 checkout.
Much like his opener against Klinge, Bunting stayed a visit ahead throughout and was deadly when it mattered most.
Match Stats:
Bunting: 93.94 average | 180s: 1 | 42.86% on Doubles (6/14)
Rock: 94.17 average | 180s: 1 | 0% on Doubles (0/2)
Quarter-Final 2: 🏴 Luke Littler 6-3 🇦🇺 Damon Heta
Both opened with routine holds, Littler in 11 darts, Heta in 14, before the Aussie struck first with an 11-dart break for 2-1. Littler hit straight back with a 15-dart break, roaring as part of the crowd booed him during the checkout.
Leg five saw a doubling disaster from Littler, eventually scraping double 1 for a scrappy 23-dart hold after Heta missed two chances. The home favourite responded with a 13-darter to level at 3-3.
From there, Littler produced his trademark three-leg burst, back-to-back 15-darters, and an 11-dart hold to seal victory without giving Heta another dart at a double.
Match Stats:
Littler: 102.84 average | 180s: 5 | 33.33% on Doubles (6/18)
Heta: 95.75 average | 180s: 1 | 60% on Doubles (3/5)
Quarter-Final 3: 🏴 Chris Dobey 6-4 🏴 Gerwyn Price
Dobey punished missed doubles in both legs from Price to go 2-0 up, then held in 14 darts for a surprise 3-0 lead.
Price responded with a 15-dart hold and back-to-back 13-darters, levelling at 3-3 without allowing Dobey a dart at double.
After trading routine holds, Dobey in 14, Price in 15, ‘Hollywood’ held firm under pressure, taking the last two legs in 15 darts, both sealed with last-dart doubles under the utmost pressure with Price waiting to pounce.
Match Stats:
Dobey: 98.08 average | 180s: 4 | 46.15% on Doubles (6/13)
Price: 101.42 average | 180s: 3 | 33.33% on Doubles (4/12)
Quarter-Final 4: 🇧🇪 Mike De Decker 6-0 🏴 Luke Humphries
Out of nowhere, De Decker whitewashed the reigning World No.1 in a stunning display. After averaging just 80 on debut the day before, few expected the Belgian to produce such a performance.
He rattled off legs of 14, 12, 18, 12, and 17 darts, including a superb 167 checkout, to lead 5-0. A composed 14-dart break on double 9 sealed the match, with Humphries missing his only darts at double in a flat display.
Match Stats:
De Decker: 103.66 average | 180s: 4 | 46.15% on Doubles (6/13)
Humphries: 91.63 average | 180s: 1 | 0% on Doubles (0/2)
Semi-Final 1: 🏴 Luke Littler 7-4 🏴 Stephen Bunting
The opening six legs all went with throw, with neither player finding a dart to break. The standout moment early on was Littler’s showpiece 170 checkout in leg three, but Bunting stayed in touch.
Littler came out firing after the interval with a 12-dart hold for 4-3, only for Bunting to respond with a comfortable five-visit leg to level. ‘The Bullet’ then missed double top for a 160 out to break, and Littler clinically pinned 68 to edge 5-4 ahead.
He followed with a brilliant 12-dart break and a 121 checkout for 6-4, before punishing another miss at double top to seal victory with a 17-dart hold, completing a three-leg burst to the finish and booking his spot in the final.
Match Stats:
Littler: 98.86 average | 180s: 4 | 53.85% on Doubles (7/13)
Bunting: 102.35 average | 180s: 3 | 66.67% on Doubles (4/6)
Semi-Final 2: 🇧🇪 Mike De Decker 7-4 🏴 Chris Dobey
De Decker opened with a confident 14-dart hold, but Dobey responded with a scrappy 21-dart break after both missed chances on the outer ring. ‘Hollywood’ then fired an 11-darter to move 2-1 ahead, before De Decker replied with a 50 checkout despite the pressure of a Dobey maximum, levelling at 2-2.
Dobey survived multiple missed doubles from the Belgian to hold in 18 darts, but De Decker produced a superb 124 finish for a 12-dart hold to make it 3-3 at the interval.
The trend of missed chances continued after the break, with both players holding throw to reach 4-4.
In leg nine, Dobey squandered two darts at double 16 to hold, and De Decker pounced with a clinical 100 checkout in two darts for the crucial break. He then wrapped up victory in style, a 15-dart hold followed by a 17-dart break, finishing 71 in two, to seal his place in the final on his World Series debut.
Match Stats:
De Decker: 94.82 average | 180s: 3 | 35% on Doubles (7/20)
Dobey: 90.27 average | 180s: 3 | 25% on Doubles (4/16)
Pre-Final Tournament Stats
Heading into the final, the numbers told an interesting story. Littler comfortably topped the tournament average charts and was the heavier scorer, hitting three more 180s than De Decker. The Belgian’s overall average was skewed by his 80 average in Round 1, with far stronger displays in his quarter- and semi-final wins.
On the checkouts, De Decker held a clear edge, 6% higher than Littler across the weekend, proving he could be clinical when it mattered.
This set up a compelling final: a teenage sensation and serial PDC title winner chasing his first World Series crown of the year, against a debutant aiming to join the exclusive club of players who’ve won a World Series title on debut.
Overall Average: Littler – 97.30 | De Decker – 91.40
180s: Littler – 12 | De Decker – 9
Checkout %: Littler – 38% | De Decker – 44%
🏆 Final: 🏴 Luke Littler 8-4 🇧🇪 Mike De Decker
‘The Nuke’ got off to a strong start, opening with a 14-dart hold followed by a 15-dart break to lead 2-0. De Decker capitalised on some wayward finishing from Littler in legs 3 and 4 to level the match at 2-2.
Littler then unleashed his trademark three-leg burst, starting with a 12 dart hold featuring an excellent 143 checkout, followed by an 11 dart break and a 17 dart hold to storm into a commanding 5-2 lead. De Decker struggled to keep pace with the 18-year-old’s relentless charge.
De Decker stayed in the contest with a confident 13-dart hold in leg eight and nearly closed the gap further, missing two darts at the outer ring before Littler pinned double 5 with a 19-darter to go 6-3 ahead.
Despite six missed darts at double 16 from Littler to close out leg 10, De Decker held on to make it 6-4. But Littler responded immediately with a clinical 12-dart hold, followed by a magnificent 14-dart break in leg 12 to claim the title Down Under.
Match Stats:
Littler: 99.26 average | 180s: 7 | 42.11% on Doubles (8/19)
De Decker: 89.66 average | 180s: 1 | 57.14% on Doubles (4/7)
Closing Thoughts
🥇Littler Bounces Back in Wollongong
‘The Nuke’ came into this World Series event with something to prove after suffering an 8-1 defeat to Gerwyn Price in last year’s Wollongong final on his debut. This time, he breezed through the tournament without a serious threat to claim the title and the £30,000 top prize, marking a confident comeback on familiar turf.
🇧🇪 De Decker’s Odd Run on Debut
After an underwhelming 80 average in his opening round, doubts were raised about De Decker’s form and inclusion in the event. However, he dramatically improved, delivering a stunning 6-0 whitewash of World No.1 Luke Humphries and then dispatching Chris Dobey to reach the final on debut. It’s a run to be proud of and one that should boost his confidence heading to Auckland next weekend.
🇦🇺 Heta’s Disappointment
Aussie No.1 Damon Heta set the tournament record average with a brilliant 6-0 whitewash of James Bailey on Friday. Yet, he couldn’t maintain that form and was beaten 6-3 by Littler in the quarter-finals. It will be a disappointment for Heta, who has expressed a desire to be known for more than just his Brisbane Darts Masters win years ago.
🔜 Looking Ahead: 🇳🇿 New Zealand
After an exciting weekend in Wollongong, attention now turns to the New Zealand Darts Masters at Auckland’s Spark Arena on August 15-16. Luke Humphries will be looking to bounce back and defend his title on home soil in what promises to be another thrilling event.
Post-Final Reaction
Luke Littler on PDC.tv:
“It feels great,”
“I didn’t play that well last night, but I played very well tonight when it really mattered.
“Obviously, it hadn’t gone to plan on the World Series circuit this year, but there's plenty of opportunities to win, and I’ve finally picked up that trophy tonight.
“I cannot wait for Auckland now. We’ll have a few days off, and then it’s off to New Zealand we go!”
Mike De Decker on PDC.tv:
“I’m happy to get to the final, and I showed I’m still able to play my A-game.”
“There’s been a lot of ups and downs this year, so reaching the final this weekend is a big confidence boost.”
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