World Matchplay Darts final LIVE: Luke Littler beats James Wade in Blackpool as it happened

Summary

World Matchplay final result: Luke Littler 18-13 James Wade
Littler, 18, wins his first Blackpool title and completes darts' triple crown of World Championship, Premier League and World Matchplay
Wade performs well in top-quality contest but falls to sixth defeat in seven Matchplay final appearances
Lisa Ashton won Women's World Matchplay earlier on Sunday

Live Reporting

Sam Drury and Alex Fletcher

'That was brutal'published at 20:35 British Summer Time 27 July
Littler 5-5 Wade*
Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

James Wade has not had a dart at double in these five legs.
All the scoring he did in the first mini-session, he has not replicated it.
That was brutal from Luke Littler.
We're all squarepublished at 20:34 British Summer Time 27 July
Littler 5-5 Wade*

Image source, Getty Images
In the blink of an eye, Luke Littler has drawn level.
What a session this has been for Littler. Double 10 makes it 5-5.
He averaged in excess of 110 in those five legs and James Wade, whose scoring fell off a cliff, didn't have a single dart at double.
Four in a row...published at 20:33 British Summer Time 27 July
*Littler 4-5 Wade

He lost the first five legs, now Luke Littler has won four on the spin and has the darts to end this session...
A 12-darter and, again, he doesn't let James Wade have a look at a finish.
Some turnaround and in double-quick time.
Postpublished at 20:31 British Summer Time 27 July
Littler 3-5 Wade*
Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

James Wade has gone off the boil.
Averaging 106 now Luke Littler and Wade has regressed.
Littler wins three in a rowpublished at 20:31 British Summer Time 27 July
Littler 3-5 Wade*

Not quite so ruthless this time but another comfortable hold for Luke Littler.
Three misses at double eight don't matter a jot because the fourth finds its mark.
How will James Wade respond?
Littler breakspublished at 20:29 British Summer Time 27 July
*Littler 2-5 Wade

Here comes Luke Littler.
His scoring has picked up, James Wade's has dropped off and the world champion has got a break back.
Clinical finishing as well from Littler, he's only needed one dart at double in each of the past two legs.
Postpublished at 20:27 British Summer Time 27 July
Littler 1-5 Wade*
Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

Littler has got his settler.
That's what they call the first leg on the board.
Littler on the boardpublished at 20:27 British Summer Time 27 July
Littler 1-5 Wade*

Image source, Getty Images
That's much more like it from Luke Littler.
Another 180 on his way to an 11-dart hold.
Wade aims to join exclusive clubpublished at 20:25 British Summer Time 27 July
*Littler 0-5 Wade

Only three people have won multiple World Matchplay titles since the event was first staged in 1994.
Phil Taylor holds the record with 16 titles - one of the reasons why the trophy is named after him.
James Wade, who won the 2007 World Matchplay, is hoping to add his name to that exclusive club.
He literally couldn't have asked for a better start...
Postpublished at 20:24 British Summer Time 27 July
*Littler 0-5 Wade

That is some start from James Wade. He's averaging 104.38 and he's a pretty good frontrunner so it won't be easy for Luke Littler to comeback.
The world champion is averaging 98.05 but has been outscored by Wade. He's only had three darts at double and two came in that most recent leg.
'Can he do it against Wade?'published at 20:22 British Summer Time 27 July
*Littler 0-5 Wade
Dan Dawson
Commentator on Sky Sports

Image source, Getty Images
Littler shrugs his shoulders.
He's going to have to do this again just like he did in the semi-finals against Josh Rock.
But can he do it against Wade?
Wade sweeps the sessionpublished at 20:22 British Summer Time 27 July
*Littler 0-5 Wade

For the second night running, Luke Littler finds himself 5-0 down after the opening session.
James Wade finally misses a dart at double - four of them, in fact - but it doesn't matter.
Littler misses at double top and then double 10 so Wade is back to hit double five.
Who saw this coming?
Postpublished at 20:20 British Summer Time 27 July
Littler 0-4 Wade*
Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

This is not going according to plan for Luke Littler.
He's struggling right now.
Wade breaks againpublished at 20:20 British Summer Time 27 July
Littler 0-4 Wade*

Image source, Getty Images
James Wade is on fire!
He can't miss on the outer ring.
Luke Littler is just off it, gets nowhere close to a dart at double when left with 113 and Wade takes out 83.
Big 17, treble 16, double nine. Superb from 'The Machine'.
Postpublished at 20:18 British Summer Time 27 July
*Littler 0-3 Wade
Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

Where is the drama in this?
In his pre-match interview Luke Littler said he didn't make the ideal start last night... he's averaging 104 but he's been totally outscored.
Three in a row for Wadepublished at 20:17 British Summer Time 27 July
*Littler 0-3 Wade

What a start for James Wade.
He has been ruthless on the doubles so far. Three darts at the outer ring and he's got them all.
Tops again for Wade and Luke Littler is going to have to come back behind again.
Postpublished at 20:16 British Summer Time 27 July
Littler 0-2 Wade*
Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

James Wade has come out absolutely firing.
He's been known for decades as the most deadly double-ist...
And he's started like Luke Littler may have expected.
Wade breakspublished at 20:16 British Summer Time 27 July
Littler 0-2 Wade*

Another 180 for Luke Littler but James Wade gets one of his own on the way to an early break.
Littler nearly takes out 134 but narrowly misses double 10.
That leaves Wade with 80 to get... and get it he does, double top to clinch it.
Postpublished at 20:14 British Summer Time 27 July
*Littler 0-1 Wade

James Wade throws first and he gets the early hold.
Clinical stuff from 'The Machine' - an 11-darter sealed with a two-dart 90 checkout.
Luke Littler wasn't too far behind having hit his first 180 of the night.
*denotes throwing first in next leg
Postpublished at 20:13 British Summer Time 27 July
Littler v Wade
Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

All we ask for is darting drama, I feel sure we are going to get it.
We are, aren't we?