{"success":true,"data":{"id":"260b6970-15b9-4f6f-a4bc-7a1cf7ef25f6","title":"Luke Littler warns he can still get better after retaining World Matchplay title","summary":"US Edition Change Support Now × \"Clear search box\") Custom Search Sort by Relevance Date NewsNews SportsSports CultureCulture LifestyleLifestyle MoneyMoney TravelTravel PremiumPremium ClimateClimate More More Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site t...","content":"US Edition Change\n\nSupport Now\n\n[×](javascript:void(0) \"Clear search box\")\n\nCustom Search\n\nSort by\n\nRelevance\n\nDate\n\n*   News[News](https://www.independent.co.uk/us)\n\n*   Sports[Sports](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport)\n\n*   Culture[Culture](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment)\n\n*   Lifestyle[Lifestyle](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style)\n\n*   Money[Money](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money)\n\n*   Travel[Travel](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/travel)\n\n*   Premium[Premium](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium)\n\n*   Climate[Climate](https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change)\n\nMore\n\nMore\n\n### Thank you for registering\n\nPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in\n\n# Luke Littler warns he can still get better after retaining World Matchplay title\n\n## Littler was in imperious form as he set a new record for the final with an average of 111.53.\n\n[Ian Parker](https://www.independent.co.uk/author/ian-parker)Sunday 26 July 2026 22:29 BST\n\n*   Copy link  \n*   Bookmark  \n\n## Bookmark popover\n\nRemoved from bookmarks\n\nClose popover\n\nopen image in gallery\n\nLuke Littler retained the World Matchplay title in Blackpool (Richard Sellers/PA)(PA Wire)\n\n### Your support helps us to tell the story\n\nFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.\n\nAt such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.\n\nThe Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.\n\n**Your support makes all the difference.**\n\n[Luke Littler](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/luke-littler) warned he can still get better after crushing [Gerwyn Price](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/gerwyn-price) 18-9 to retain his Betfred World Matchplay title in Blackpool.\n\nLittler was in imperious form as he set a new record for the final with an average of 111.53, lifting his average for the tournament as a whole to 111.04 to break Phil Taylor’s previous high mark of 106.31.\n\nLittler also broke his own competition record for 180s as he hit 12 in the final to reach 66 for the week.\n\nThe win keeps Littler on course for a clean sweep of trophies in 2026 having already won the World Championship, UK Open, [Premier League](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/premier-league) and the Masters.\n\nBut while the 19-year-old said this was the best version of himself to date, there is still plenty more to come.\n\n[](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/product-update/quickbooks-improvements-2026)[The QuickBooks updates small businesses asked for. QuickBooks | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/product-update/quickbooks-improvements-2026 \"The QuickBooks updates small businesses asked for.\")\n\n[](https://promopage.net/f5f203fd-4198-4b6e-a854-d90641b6f26e)[Forget Expensive Treatments — This $23 Spray Is Changing Lives HolisticPlusLab.com | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://promopage.net/f5f203fd-4198-4b6e-a854-d90641b6f26e \"Forget Expensive Treatments — This $23 Spray Is Changing Lives\")\n\n“I can still get better,” Littler said. “I can get a lot better. Through the matches, I was up to a 120 average at one point and I didn’t make it stick. Maybe in a few years’ time I will stick it and go up to a 120 average.\n\n“At the minute I’m playing some of the best stuff and I’ve just got to keep it there…\n\n“The main goal was to win every major once. I don’t know how many years are left in me. We’re still only two and a half years into my professional career. It’s far from done.”\n\nLittler suggested his relentless scoring reflected his deep desire to become only the third man to successfully defend the Matchplay title after Taylor and [Michael van Gerwen](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/michael-van-gerwen), who achieved it 10 years ago.\n\n“I’ve come out with the best outcome there is in any tournament by lifting the trophy, but the way I’ve done it, I’ve definitely surprised myself but it’s down to the commitment I’ve got.\n\n“I wanted to win this trophy more than anything, go back to back, put my name on that list and that’s what I’ve done. I wasn’t playing the best (in the World Series) but I’ve come here with a different mindset.”\n\nPrice, appearing in his first final since 2022 having never won the trophy, had said earlier in the week that if he brought his best to the final he could beat Littler, but it was not the case as, even averaging 104.97, the Welshman was blown away.\n\n“Luke is one in a million,” Price said. “I think I played pretty decent.\n\n“In that game I missed a couple of opportunities but the bull checkouts, the 167, it was a big turning point even though it was early in the game.\n\nGerwyn Price (right) recognises Littler as “one in a million” (Bradley Collyer/PA)(PA Wire)\n\n“I didn’t play brilliant, but I played decent.”","source_name":"The Independent","source_url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/luke-littler-gerwyn-price-premier-league-fallon-sherrock-michael-van-gerwen-b3021877.html","url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/luke-littler-gerwyn-price-premier-league-fallon-sherrock-michael-van-gerwen-b3021877.html","author":"Ian Parker","author_name":"Ian Parker","published_at":"2026-07-26T21:29:30.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-26T21:29:30.000Z","image_url":"https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/07/26/22/8f594ab9d7d9d8a383a8e1fdfe531256Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzg1MTg3MTQx-2.84704544.jpg","category":"sport","topic":"sport","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":4,"word_count":782,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot","language":null}}