Luke Littler successfully defended his Betfred World Matchplay crown with a commanding 18-9 win over Gerwyn Price in Blackpool. The victory gave Littler a second straight title in the event and underlined his control of the final.
The 19-year-old produced a superb standard on the big stage, averaging 111.53 during the match. That figure highlighted just how sharp Littler was as he powered through the contest and kept Price under constant pressure.
Price made it to the final but was unable to stay with Littler once the defending champion found his rhythm. The one-sided scoreline reflected the authority of Littler's display as he surged clear and never allowed the match to become close.
Winning back-to-back World Matchplay titles in Blackpool is another major statement from Littler. Rather than scraping through, he retained the trophy in emphatic fashion and finished the tournament with a performance that will stand out as one of the talking points of the event.
