LUKE LITTLER smashed almost every record going to steal all the headlines and illuminate Blackpool.
However, the Winter Gardens had other major stories in a rollercoaster eight days of emotional ups and downs.
Emma Paton has stepped up remarkably to fill the void left by the legendary Dave Clark Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Paton has echoes of Sue Barker thanks to her effortless broadcasting Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
It’s overlooked but there’s one person who holds the entire show together and is a constant in our living rooms when the arrows take centre stage. That is .
She had huge shoes to fill when taking over from the . That must have been a daunting task, especially as a female in what was a male dominated sport.
But glam Em with that beaming smile has now become the face of darts, delivering every broadcast with effortless and consummate professionalism.
She has simply become the or of the arrows. There’s a genuinely fun rapport with pundits Wayne Mardle, Mark Webster and John Part and every broadcast is a joy to watch.
Mardle is undoubtedly the No1 pundit in the sport, his humour and insight are a vital constant thread. Webster and Part are also a great listen. Polly James has become their best reporter, always getting the best from every player interview.
However, Sky Sports are criminally underusing their top commentator Dan Dawson.
His knowledge and voice is the best in the sport and he works perfectly alongside the brilliant veterans Stuart Pyke and Rod Studd, Mardle, Webster and Part.
Dawson was absent from the World Championship final, the World Cup of Darts and from half the Matchplay and the final. He is sorely missed for the big moments. He needs to be on every programme. Sort it out Sky!
Luke Littler holds aloft the World Matchplay trophy Credit: Taylor Lanning/PDC
Luke Humphries suffered an agonising shock defeat to Cameron Menzies Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
WHAT’S HAPPENED TO EVERYONE ELSE?
LITTLER is the undisputed king of darts – but what’s happened to his main rivals?
Luke Humphries has been his biggest nemesis since The Nuke first entered the professional fray in late 2023.
Cool Hand beat him in that World Championship final and the Premier League final of 2025. He also recently outgunned Littler at the US Masters, beating him 8-7 in a thrilling final.
But he just surprisingly slipped on a at the Winter Gardens, a shadow of the player that Hump usually is.
We know that Humphries, and Nathan Aspinall all have the class and ability to challenge Littler.
The Asp pushed The Nuke all the way in their round two clash, despite the teenager hitting a nine-darter and 113 average.
Likewise showed so much mettle to under a barrage of big scoring and finishing. The Iceman has the grit to get results against the World No1.
But those four need to find an extra level somehow…and quickly. Good luck with that!
SunSport’s darts man Phil Lanning is convinced Littler is the greatest darts player ever Credit: Taylor Lanning/PDC
Littler doesn’t have the titles to match Taylor – but if the hunger remains, he’ll easily be the best Credit: Getty
LITTLER SETTLES GOAT DEBATE
AND what about Littler?
Over my time in darts I’ve seen them all; Eric Bristow, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen. They’ve all dominated and destroyed the opposition in their eras.
The pub chat and debate over who is the greatest ever will rumble on inevitably.
As ex-US president Theodore Roosevelt once said – and is constantly used in this context on screen by Wayne Mardle: “Comparison is the thief of joy”.
But, for me, at this moment Littler is the best I have ever seen in 50 years of watching this sport.
Backstage, he is also a total professional to deal with in interviews, his conduct exemplary. He has not put a foot wrong in almost three years, putting some of his rivals to shame.
That was possibly the most complete performance in a tournament in Blackpool.
In the Matchplay final, he was unplayable.
Littler hasn’t got the titles to attain greatness status yet alongside those legendary names aforementioned.
But if the hunger remains, he will become the best there has ever been on the dartboard.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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