Littler arrived in Australia fresh from lifting the World Matchplay title a fortnight ago, and the World Champion maintained his winning run to triumph in Wollongong.
The Warrington wonderkid survived a major scare in his opening round tie on Friday, edging out New Zealand’s number one Haupai Puha in a last-leg decider. However, normal service was resumed on Finals Day, as Littler overcame Damon Heta, Stephen Bunting and De Decker to secure his first World Series crown of 2025.
Littler kicked off Saturday’s play with an impressive 6-3 success against Australian number one Heta, reeling off three straight legs to prevail with a 102 average. The World Champion also made a sprint for the finish in his semi-final showdown against Stephen Bunting, producing a crucial 121 finish in the penultimate leg of his 7-4 victory.
De Decker defied a strong start from Littler to level at two apiece in Saturday’s showpiece, but the teenage superstar regained control with two magnificent legs. The world number two followed up a sparkling 143 checkout with an 11-darter to lead 4-2, although De Decker remained in touch to reduce the arrears to 6-4.
However, Littler responded with a brilliant 12-dart hold to move to the brink of victory at 7-4, before rounding off a 14-dart break to cap off a dominant campaign Down Under. Despite missing out on the title, De Decker impressed on his World Series of Darts debut, defeating Luke Humphries and Chris Dobey on Finals Day.
The World Grand Prix champion averaged over 103 to whitewash world number one Humphries in the quarter-finals, taking out a stunning 167 checkout along the way. The Belgian number one then powered past Dobey in the semi-finals, reeling off four consecutive legs from 4-3 down to complete an impressive comeback.
Dobey also broke new ground in Wollongong, winning through a high-quality tie against reigning champion Price to progress to his first World Series semi-final.
The evening’s other quarter-final clash saw Bunting whitewash Northern Ireland’s World Cup champion Josh Rock, who had averaged 108 in Friday’s first round. Bunting also averaged 102 in defeat against Littler, although the Liverpudlian remains top of the World Series rankings heading into next weekend’s event in Auckland.
The second leg of the World Series’ Oceanic double-header will take place at the Spark Arena on August 15-16, as the sport’s biggest names battle it out for the SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters title.
2025 KenoGO Australian Darts Masters
August 8-9, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
Friday August 8 (19.00 Local Time, 10.00 BST)
Round One (11)
Mike De Decker 6-2 Brandon Weening
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Joe Comito
Stephen Bunting 6-1 Brody Klinge
Luke Humphries 6-3 Jonny Tata
Damon Heta 6-0 James Bailey
Luke Littler 6-5 Haupai Puha
Josh Rock 6-1 Simon Whitlock
Chris Dobey 6-4 Tim Pusey
Saturday August 9 (19.00 Local Time, 10.00 BST)
Quarter-Finals (11)
Stephen Bunting 6-0 Josh Rock
Luke Littler 6-3 Damon Heta
Chris Dobey 6-4 Gerwyn Price
Mike De Decker 6-0 Luke Humphries
Semi-Finals (13)
Luke Littler 7-4 Stephen Bunting
Mike De Decker 7-4 Chris Dobey
Final (15)
Luke Littler 8-4 Mike De Decker