World champion Luke Littler clinically defeated world number one Luke Humphries 6-1 in Leicester to win his first World Grand Prix title.
Littler, 18, was knocked out in the first round of the ‘double-in and double-out’ tournament on debut last year, but was more impressive throughout this campaign.
His average was lower than Humphries’ in the final, but he was ruthless throughout, winning five of his six sets in final-leg deciders to claim the £120,000 prize money.
It gives Littler his seventh PDC major televised title – the joint seventh-highest in history.
He has closed the gap between himself and leader Humphries to just over £70,000 at the top of the PDC’s order of merit as the two battle to arrive at December’s World Championships as world number one.
“I’m very happy to tick it off, it’s not the easiest tournament to win,” Littler, who confirmed he will play in the World Youth Championships on Monday in Wigan, told Sky Sports.
“This is one I can tick off and there’s not many left.”
On the battle to be world number one, Littler said: “It’s definitely not a lot of [a difference in] prize money, especially with what we play for. Luke will know I’m behind his back now, I’m on to him.”
Humphries said he needs to “dedicate everything” to being able to match Littler.
“I have to just get better, practise harder,” he said. “If I don’t, he will just run away with everything. I have to dedicate everything to being a dart player and work even harder than I ever have. I want to match him.”