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Luke Littler's PDC World Darts final draws record-breaking viewers as figures are revealed

Britain has been gripped by darts fever with new figures revealing the incredible number of people who tuned in to watch Luke Littler vs Luke Humphries in the World Championship final

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Record viewers watched Luke Littler vs Luke Humphries(Image: Sky Sports Darts)

Almost four million people tuned in for Luke Littler's heartbreaking PDC World Darts Championship final defeat to Luke Humphries.

A huge audience had been expected for the final between the world no.1 and the 16-year-old protege. A peak audience of 2.32million watched the teenager's semi-final demolition of Rob Cross in the previous round.

But the battle of the two Lukes obliterated that record as Sky Sports recorded their largest audience for a non-football event in the broadcaster's history. In total, a peak audience of 3.71million tuned into Sky Sports for the final, representing a 143% increase on the 2023 final. A total audience of 4.8million watched the broadcast as Humphries won 7-4.

READ MORE: Luke Littler reveals one thing that 'really annoyed him' during PDC Darts final defeat

READ MORE: Luke Littler branded 'spiteful, dirty and nasty' during Luke Humphries PDC Darts defeat

Littler's victory over Cross had been the most-watched darts match in Sky Sports history. But that record lasted for just a matter of hours as the 16-year-old and Humphries served up a tungsten tussle for the ages.

Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn had urged the public to tune in prior to the match, hoping that upwards of three million people would switch on to the broadcast. He got his wish and then some.

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Humphries triumphed on the night(Image: PA)

Many viewers tuned in on Wednesday evening hoping to see Littler round off an extraordinary tournament with an improbable win. But they were left disappointed as Cool Hand deservedly got his hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy.

Humphries raced into a 1-0 lead before being pegged back by Littler, who won four of the next five sets. However, Humphries then showed why he's the new world no.1 as he reeled off the next five sets without reply to claim a 7-4 victory.

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The two players served up a classic(Image: Getty Images)

The 28-year-old showed his class in his interview after the conclusion of the match. "Luke has been an unbelievable talent not just around the dart board. He has been fantastic with the media that has come about with him," he told Sky Sports.

He took defeat so well just then. He said Go and celebrate. You will never see a more down-to-earth 16-year-old kid like him."

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