ITV issued an apology during its television coverage of the UK Open final on ITV4 for foul language as darts fans at Butlin’s Minehead Resort & Holiday Park sang about Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The crowd’s singing of “Keir Starmer’s a w*****” was audible to viewers while James Wade and Luke Litter were in the second session of Sunday night’s match.

Littler beat Wade for the second year in a row, joining the three-time UK Open champion as one of just five multiple-time winners. Sunday’s final was a closer one than 12 months ago, when the teenager won 11-2, with Wade winning five more legs but still losing 11-7 and missing a chance to move within one of Phil Taylor‘s record total of five titles.

Littler said on ITV afterwards: “It feels amazing. I don’t think it has been the best tournament for me, average-wise, but I have dug deep throughout and come out with a win.

“That is what James does, he is always behind you. I told him after the game that if he had hit those double tops, it would have been a completely different game. James and I always have a good battle. I said, ‘back-to-back, you can get me next year’.

“I wasn’t happy with myself in the early rounds, but as a player, you have to dig deep. We have come out as the champ!”

He added: “Coming into the tournament, I was on social media, and I saw that the last person to go back-to-back was Michael (van Gerwen) 10 years ago, same as the World Darts Championship with Gary Anderson. That was the target I set myself, but like I always say, take it game by game. We took it game-by-game, and now I am back-to-back!

“I don’t think many people expected me to come here and win. I don’t think many people expected me to win the Premier League last week. I think I can say I am back to my best. I am back!”

Wade could not argue with the loss, saying: “Luke was just too good for me in the end. I was maybe a little bit gassed out, being older than he is. I couldn’t quite find it, but hats off to him; he’s doing what he does, and he does it quite easily.

“I missed a couple of shots and doubles… no one likes losing! Perhaps it doesn’t reflect how I am doing or what I am doing, but over the past 18 months, I have been doing alright. Luke is the best player in the world right now, and unfortunately, I have lost to him in three finals. I hate losing more than anyone, but I lost to the better player on the day.”