Littler has averaged more than 109 in all four matches in this year’s tournament as he looks to join Taylor and Michael van Gerwen as the only back-to-back winners of the Matchplay.
The run is also continuing his sublime form in longer-format matches – this win extending the streak to 28 successive wins in games with 20 or more legs.
His last defeat over a match of that duration was when he burst on to the scene in the 2024 World Championship and lost to Luke Humphries in the final.
That gives an indication of the challenge that Price will face on Sunday in his second Matchplay final.
The pair have a bit of rivalry with Price’s on-stage roars and antics often provoking Littler into doing similar, but the teenager denied that Price can get “under his skin”.
Earlier in the week, Price said that some players can “make it too easy” for Littler.
Despite their battles, Littler has won the past nine encounters between the pair, with Price’s last success in their opening meeting of 2026.
The Welshman has never beat Littler in a game that has contained more than 15 legs so will have to reach new heights in the best-of-35 final.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Littler said: “Me and Gez always have great games. Gez will want to try and get me into a roaring battle. As long as I can get into the lead that will be the thing.”
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/darts/articles/cx2dgz20n2ro?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
About the Author
