That was one of the strangest legs of darts I have ever seen. James Wade is the definition of walking wounded.

He's checking his left hand after every throw, it seems like he has somehow done himself a genuine injury with his own dart.

But he has a chance of winning this leg on his throw, two darts at double tops... misses both.

Littler can't punish him though, and James Wade finally, FINALLY, gets on the board.

James Wade hits two triple-20s, then drops his third dart. He looks in real discomfort as he picks it up. But then he hits 60 again! His first 180.

Littler then hits 180 himself.

There is then a very odd moment where Wade appears to stab himself in the hand with his own dart! He's feeling his hand and looks in some pain.

It's all very odd, but Wade has a chance to break - but misses three darts at double 16.

Littler punishes him to move 9-0 ahead, and two legs from the title.

I think a certain amount of psychology is at play here - Luke Littler has such aura, when an opponent falls behind they simply don't believe they have a chance of catching up.

James Wade meanwhile is plumb out of luck - he gets two darts into triple 20, then the third bounces between them.

Littler breaks again.

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James Wade is having every darts player's nightmare - he cannot hit a treble, while his opponent cannot miss.

The 41-year-old actually appears to be limping somewhat as he goes to the board to retrieve his arrows. Is he playing with an injury?

Luke Littler, with double top, extends his advantage to seven legs.

Chris Mason
Former PDC World Championship quarter-finalist on ITV4

I often get asked why Littler is so good. All of these young prodigies, because they do it from such a young age, it's like us walking - it's just a normal process. It's effortless, he doesn't have to try.

We are back up and running, and James Wade throws 60 with his first effort at the oche.

Luke Littler responds with 140, which sums up the momentum of this match so far.

Littler then picks up another maximum, his fifth so far, to get to a finish first, Wade again nowhere near.

The youngster has time to set up before a six, then double three, secures a TRIPLE-break.

Only five more legs required to win the UK Open title.

James Wade was flying earlier today - he beat the world number one Luke Humphries in the quarter-finals, and demolished Josh Rock 11-2 in the semis.

But in this final, he averaged just 84 in the first five legs - he has been nowhere near Luke Littler.

Darts is a funny old game.

Chris Mason
Former PDC World Championship quarter-finalist on ITV4

There's no hangover from that fourth leg. It's a great character to have, especially for such a young player.

The only blot on the copybook was leg four, when he missed lots of darts at a double.

Wade's going to have to find the high end of his scoring power just to apply some pressure to the Littler throw.

"Watching Luke Littler, his incredible feats over the last 12 months at his age, it really captures the imagination," says Gary Siddons.

It was Littler's rise to fame after reaching the 2024 World Darts Championship final at the age of 16 that inspired the 53-year-old from Loughborough, Leicestershire, to take up the sport himself.

Mr Siddons, who has been paralysed from the waist down since birth due to spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, started playing in December and then came up with the idea of running an inclusive darts club.

"I knew there would be other people who had been inspired who wouldn't necessarily want to go to a pub, or couldn't [play] at home, so it was about setting up a social place where they could," he explained.

"I've always been in and around sport, I was perhaps looking for something new, so I thought this is something I could get into."

With the help of friends and volunteers, Mr Siddons turned his idea of creating an inclusive club into a reality in under eight weeks and the first Darts for All event took place at John Storer House, in Ward's End, on Tuesday.

Mr Siddons said the sessions were "not just about darts", and added "it's about getting people out of home and out in the community".

The BBC's My Life followed prodigious darts talent Jack, 13, to the World Junior Open in Gibraltar, where he hoped to follow in the footsteps of previous winner Luke Littler.

That was a 20-dart leg from Luke Littler in the fourth. Terrible darts in terms of shooting at doubles from both men, but Littler will only care that he won it.

He recovers with another 180 in leg five, and is not having to throw at his best here as James Wade simply has not got going yet.

Double top ensures Littler has swept all five legs before the first interval.

Luke Littler is averaging over 120 so far, James Wade is not in triple figures. In the early stages this is only going one way.

Another 180 from Littler, his third maximum from the first four legs. He needs 41 for the double break - but misses eight shots at doubles!

Wade however is way off target too, allowing Littler to finally see it out with double two.

Luke Littler has a face like thunder out on the oche. That's mostly concentration, although Manchester United's earlier exit from the FA Cup may also play a part.

Unlike United, Littler is bang on target here with another 180 on his way to holding throw again.

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Luke Littler reached double figures for 180s in his semi-final, and doesn't need long to record his first maximum here - in leg two.

He's first to a finish against the throw here, but can't check out 136.

Wade though misses double eight! It leaves Littler with a chance - and he takes it. A huge early advantage.

Luke Littler throws first, and opens with a 140. Not bad.

These men have very different styles, Littler is rapid fire on the throw while James Wade is much more leisurely.

Littler is first to a check-out, he needs 88 for leg one. No problem, he sees it out in two darts.

Both men have warmed up. Here we go...

World number 14 James Wade was the first to make the walk to the oche. He certainly enjoyed himself, stopping for plenty of selfies. It meant we got to hear almost all of I'm Still Standing, his walk on tune. No bad thing, I love a bit of Elton.

Luke Littler, the world number two, is up next. He stops for a couple of autographs but is much more business-like. He knows he is the favourite here.

These players have already met once in 2025 - in the World Masters last month. Luke Littler dominated the best-of-seven-set match, blowing James Wade away 4-0.

And remarkably, they even met in the UK Open last year. Littler won their last-32 meeting in Minehead.

Wade has beaten Littler previously however, winning 6-5 in a Players Championship event in February 2024. That, plus the form he has shown today, indicates this is far from a foregone conclusion.

Speaking of which, here's a 20-year-old James Wade in action at the very first UK Open back in 2003...

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