Sixteen-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler’s dreams of clinching the world title were dashed on Wednesday when Luke Humphries took five sets in a row from 4-2 down to triumph 7-4 in the final.

World youth champion Littler had stunned the tournament by his magical run on his tournament debut to the championship finale, having arrived in London ranked a lowly 164 in the world.

The teenager, after a nervy start, found his form and had a dart to lead 5-2 as he tried to become the sport’s youngest world champion

But Littler missed a tough double two, paving the way for a Humphries fight back in front of a packed crowd at Alexandra Palace as the 28-year-old world number one defeated his fellow Englishman to win a maiden world title.

“It has been unbelievable,” said Littler, a newly wealthy young man after pocketing a runners-up cheque worth £200,000 (231,958 euros).

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