The 2025 darts season delivered a spectacle of epic proportions, with rising stars and seasoned veterans clashing in a series of unforgettable major finals. While some matches saw dominant performances from the likes of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, others pushed players to their absolute limits, culminating in nail-biting finishes and historic upsets. This definitive ranking, based on sheer drama and entertainment rather than just statistics, takes you through all eleven major TV event finals from worst to best. Get ready to relive the highs, the lows, and the moments that defined an incredible year in darts!
The 2025 Major Finals: Ranked by Drama and Entertainment
11. UK Open: Luke Littler vs. James Wade (11-0) – A Tough Watch
Kicking off our list is a final that, despite featuring a phenomenal **Luke Littler**, offered little in the way of contest. Littler’s dominant 101.51 average speaks volumes, but the scoreline of **11-0** was as one-sided as it gets. A valiant **James Wade**, aiming for an incredible fourth UK Open title, simply ran out of steam. After gruelling victories over Luke Humphries and Josh Rock, Wade, visibly struggling with a hand injury (reportedly from stabbing himself with his own darts!), managed a mere 88.06 average – the lowest on this list. He lost the first nine legs, and only Littler’s misses prevented a complete whitewash, making this final a difficult watch for fans hoping for a battle.
10. World Championship: Luke Littler vs. Michael Van Gerwen (7-3) – MVG’s Slow Start
It might seem strange to find the biggest final of the year so low, but the 2025 World Championship final lacked the sustained drama of higher-ranked matches. **Luke Littler** was in cruise control early on, racing to a **4-0 lead** as **Michael Van Gerwen** struggled to find his rhythm. While MVG did eventually raise his game, the early deficit was too significant. Littler simply had to manage his lead, and despite Van Gerwen’s efforts to close the gap, the outcome never truly felt in doubt, diminishing the overall tension.
9. Players Championship Finals: Luke Littler vs. Nathan Aspinall (11-8) – A Glimmer of Hope
This was by no means a bad game, but it followed a similar pattern of early dominance. **Luke Littler** again stormed ahead, establishing a **5-2 lead**. While the ever-resilient **Nathan Aspinall** fought back commendably, narrowing the score to **9-8**, he never quite managed to get in front. Littler held his nerve, winning the next two legs to secure the title. The match had its moments, but the early advantage meant Aspinall’s comeback, while spirited, always felt like an uphill battle rather than a genuine threat to Littler’s control.
8. World Grand Prix: Luke Littler vs. Luke Humphries (6-1) – Deceptive Scoreline
The scoreline of **6-1** might suggest another comfortable win for **Luke Littler**, but this final was far more competitive than it appears. Littler won an astounding **five of his six sets in deciding legs**, showcasing incredible clutch play. The final leg count of **18-10** confirms a convincing win, but it hides the intense, back-and-forth nature of many individual sets. **Luke Humphries** actually boasted a higher average and hit more 180s, yet Littler’s impeccable timing in crucial moments meant that Humphries, despite his strong performance, could never truly get back into the match and threaten to take the lead.
7. Premier League: Luke Humphries vs. Luke Littler (11-8) – Controlled Dominance
Given their electrifying encounters during the league phase, many expected an explosive Premier League final between the two Lukes. While it didn’t quite reach those stratospheric heights, it was a finely balanced affair. The match was tight, with the players going into the break at **5-5**. However, **Luke Humphries** then took command, maintaining a comfortable distance from **Luke Littler** and expertly controlling the game’s flow. Despite averaging three points less than his opponent, Humphries’ composure and strategic play allowed him to claim the title he famously called “missing” from his extensive darting CV, marking a significant personal achievement.
6. World Series Of Darts Finals: Michael Van Gerwen vs. Luke Littler (11-7) – The Return of the Green Machine
Often considered the most ‘forgettable’ of TV tournaments, the 2025 World Series of Darts Finals became memorable for the spectacular resurgence of **Michael Van Gerwen**. After a challenging year on and off the oche, MVG truly rose to the occasion in front of his home crowd. He produced consistently high-level darts, something that had eluded him for much of the season. The final against **Luke Littler** was evenly poised until MVG nudged ahead at **7-6**. From there, the Dutch legend took full control, sealing his first TV title in two years – ironically, since the 2023 World Series Finals – with a magnificent **130 checkout**. This win marked a powerful return to form for Van Gerwen.
5. Grand Slam Of Darts: Luke Littler vs. Luke Humphries (16-11) – The 160 Checkout That Changed Everything
This final started with **Luke Humphries** making a strong impression, leading **4-2** and then **8-6**. However, a pivotal moment turned the tide completely. Humphries made a crucial error, attempting the bullseye when **Luke Littler** wasn’t on a finish, only to botch his shot at the 25. This opened the door for Littler, who seized the opportunity with an incredible **160 checkout** to take an **11-9 lead**. Humphries comically acknowledged the shot by pretending to punch Littler, but the moment was no joke – it completely changed the game’s momentum. Littler, buoyed by his spectacular finish, dominated the final session to secure back-to-back Grand Slam titles.
4. World Matchplay: Luke Littler vs. James Wade (18-11) – The Marathon Man
Having navigated several scares to reach his first World Matchplay final, **Luke Littler** faced another monumental challenge in **James Wade**. Wade was playing some of the best darts of his long career, reaching an astounding sixth final at the iconic Winter Gardens. Just as Josh Rock had done in his semi-final against Littler, Wade got off to a perfect start, storming to a **5-0 lead** at the first break. This time, he would not be steamrolled. Littler, however, rallied to level the score at **5-5**. Despite Littler maintaining a remarkable **107 average**, Wade clung on, only trailing **11-9** at the fourth break. But Littler eventually pulled away to **14-11** and, in a true war of attrition, outlasted Wade to nurse his lead to an **18-11** victory, claiming a hard-fought title.
3. European Championships: Gian Van Veen vs. Luke Humphries (11-10) – A Young Star’s Breakthrough
After defeating fellow Dutchman Michael Van Gerwen to reach his maiden major final, many expected **Luke Humphries** to be too formidable a challenge for the young **Gian Van Veen**. This seemed to be the case when Humphries quickly established a **4-1 lead**. Yet, Van Veen showed incredible resilience, fighting back to **4-4** and eventually taking the lead at **7-6**. The drama escalated as Van Veen missed two darts at tops to win the match **11-9**. Humphries then produced an utterly spectacular **85 checkout on the bull** to force a last-leg decider. The tension mounted as it was Humphries’ turn to miss, failing to convert a shot at tops from 69 for the win. This allowed Van Veen to step up and wrap up his first major title with a sublime **100 finish**, marking a truly memorable breakthrough.
2. World Cup of Darts: Northern Ireland vs. Wales (10-9) – Teamwork and Tense Deciders
While the legendary 2012 World Cup final may never be surpassed, the 2025 edition came incredibly close to matching its drama. **Northern Ireland**, spearheaded by **Josh Rock’s ridiculous power scoring** and **Daryl Gurney’s clinical double-hitting**, got off to a fantastic start, leading **3-1**. However, the Welsh duo of **Jonny Clayton** and **Gerwyn Price** rallied back to parity and eventually took a **7-5 lead**, with Clayton’s crucial high finishes, including a magnificent **142 checkout**, allowing Wales to stand firm against Rock’s astonishing 107.88 individual average and nine 180s. Northern Ireland fought back to lead **9-8**, only to miss four crucial darts to clinch the title. **Jonny Clayton** then coolly stepped up, hitting a **70 checkout** to force a nail-biting last-leg decider. The final leg was arguably one of the best in recent memory: Rock began with a 134, Clayton replied with a ton, and Gurney and Price traded maximums. **Josh Rock**, undoubtedly the player of the tournament, then hit a fantastic **171** to leave double 8 for the match, which **Daryl Gurney** calmly secured with his second dart, sealing the title with an incredible **11-dart leg**. A true team effort and an unforgettable final!
1. Winmau World Masters: Luke Humphries vs. Jonny Clayton (6-5) – The Ultimate Rebrand
The reformatting and rebranding of the Winmau World Masters last year utterly transformed what was once a forgettable tournament into a gripping, drama-filled affair. The brilliant decision to adopt the classic best-of-three-set format from the old BDO World Masters proved to be a stroke of genius, and the final certainly lived up to expectations. **Luke Humphries** faced a resurgent **Jonny Clayton**, who had impressively taken out Luke Littler in the quarter-finals. Humphries started strongly, leading **5-2** and seemingly just one set away from the title. But Clayton produced an incredible fightback, tying the game at **5-5** and pushing it to a last-leg decider. In a moment of intense pressure, Clayton had a shot at 120 for the win but couldn’t conjure up a match dart, allowing **Luke Humphries** to hit tops and become the first-ever PDC World Master. This final epitomized the success of the tournament’s new format and delivered edge-of-your-seat entertainment.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
