Darts fans have 'worrying' theory after watching Luke Littler thrash James Wade to win the UK Open

Darts fans have come up with a theory after seeing Luke Littler thrash James Wade 11-2 in the final of the UK Open - but others have a completely opposite view.

The 18-year-old lifted his first UK Open title in stunning fashion in Minehead, dominating the match from start to finish.

Littler averaged upwards of 120 across the opening four legs, with only a series of missed doubles in the fifth - a leg he eventually won - dropping that average below 100 for a brief moment.

Wade, meanwhile, had earlier defeated Josh Rock 11-2 in the semi-final but couldn't carry that momentum through to the final.

'The Machine' also suffered what looked like a hand injury after the points of his darts appeared to 'stab' him as he stepped off the oche during the match.

Luke Littler won the 2025 UK Open (Image: Getty)

It was though a strong weekend for the three-time winner of the event, who struggled for form in 2024 and didn't reach a single major ranking event final.

Watching Littler win in Minehead, some darts fans suggested that Littler's rivals may struggle to win any of the top majors if they cannot improve their standard - though seemingly forgetting runaway world number one Luke Humphries.

One wrote: "Littler is incredible but fear this year of darts will be very boring."

A second said: "Littler dominance may bore fans."

And a third claimed: "There doesn't seem to be the elite level talent there was once was. There was a spell it was Barney, Wade, Taylor, MVG, Lewis, Anderson. The only player close to Littler now is Humphries and then a big gap below to the rest."

But other fans had an alternate view, pointing to the world number one Humphries, the in-form Rob Cross and Gerwyn Price and a potential Michael van Gerwen resurgence as among the challengers to Littler this season.

One wrote: "Not sure it'll be as boring as you think. Five different winners in Players Championship events, World Masters and Premier League nights so far."

A second said: "As [long as] Humphries and Price keep Littler at arms lengths, darts will be competitive."

And a third added: "Luke Humphries definitely has the game to beat Littler. You can't win everything and Littler I doubt will win every single major this year."