When Your Practice Partner Beats You in the Final (And You're Somehow Okay With It)

By Lewis Barnett 30 July, 2025 4 mins read 190 Views

This is going to sound weird, but I'm actually fascinated by what happened between Luke Littler and James Wade after that World Matchplay final.

Picture this: you're practicing with some 18-year-old kid, literally telling him to "get up off your arse" and work on his checkouts with you. Fast forward a few days, and that same kid is holding the Phil Taylor trophy while you're... well, not. Wade's reaction? Pure class, honestly. Makes me feel like a complete child for how I handle losing at pub darts.

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The Practice Sessions That Came Back to Haunt Him

Littler spilled the details on TungstenTales (yeah, I watch darts YouTube channels, don't judge me). Apparently Wade had been drilling him on 121 to 170 checkouts. "He literally told me, 'Get up off your arse and practice with me. 121.' Alright, James."

Can you imagine? Teaching your opponent the exact skills they'd use to beat you 18-13 in Blackpool. That's either incredibly generous or spectacularly stupid. I'm leaning toward generous, but man...

My mate Dave once helped me fix my golf swing before a tournament. I came third, he came dead last. He didn't speak to me for two weeks. Different breed, these professional athletes.

What Do You Even Say After That?

The moment after Littler threw those winning darts, cameras caught them chatting on stage. Wade's words: "Well played, brilliant tournament and well done to you."

That's it. No drama, no excuses, just pure sportsmanship.

Compare that to how most of us handle losing. Last month I lost a £20 bet on who could eat more wings and I'm still bringing it up in conversations. "Yeah, well remember when you cheated at wing night?" (He didn't cheat. I'm just bitter.)

The Kid Who Keeps Collecting Trophies

This Warrington teenager now has the sport's triple crown. At 18! When I was 18, my biggest achievement was successfully making beans on toast without burning anything.

The victory netted him £200,000 in prize money - his first trophy since March when he won that European Tour event. Not bad for someone who's been deliberately skipping Players Championship events and European Tour dates. Imagine being so good you can afford to be picky about which tournaments to enter.

Meanwhile, I enter every local pub quiz hoping to win a £50 bar tab.

Wade's Classy Exit (Sort Of)

Here's where it gets slightly messy. Wade apparently broke tournament etiquette by not collecting his runners-up trophy on stage. Look, I get it - nobody wants to pose with the "I came second" hardware when you've just watched your practice partner lift the real prize.

Still, after everything else he did right that night, this feels like a minor footnote.

The guy's been out of Premier League Darts since 2022 and is desperately trying to qualify again. Getting to a World Matchplay final should help those chances, even if he didn't quite get over the line.

Sometimes the best stories aren't about winning. Sometimes they're about how you lose, who you help along teh way, and whether you can smile when your student becomes the master.

Wade managed all three. That's worth something, even without the trophy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth spending more money on expensive darts?

The question of dart investment really depends on your commitment level and budget. You don't need to spend a fortune, but there's definitely a quality threshold worth crossing.

I keep hitting 5s and 1s when aiming for 20s. How do I fix this?

This is probably the most common frustration in darts—those dreaded 5s and 1s when you're aiming for the 20 segment! The good news is that this specific problem usually stems from a few identifiable issues.

Wait, so how exactly do you score in darts? I always get confused.

Dart scoring is straightforward once you get the hang of it! The standard game (501 or 301) starts with that number, and you subtract whatever you hit with each throw. The goal is to reach exactly zero, with your final dart landing in a double.

How do I improve my dart throwing technique?

Improving your dart technique comes down to consistency and deliberate practice. First, establish a comfortable stance—feet shoulder-width apart, with your dominant foot slightly forward. Your weight should be balanced and stable, not leaning forward or back.

What's the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?

Steel tip and soft tip darts represent two distinct branches of the sport, each with their own equipment, venues, and sometimes even scoring systems. The most obvious difference is in the point: steel tips have metal points for traditional bristle boards, while soft tips use flexible plastic points for electronic boards.

How often should I replace my dartboard?

A quality sisal dartboard should last anywhere from 1-3 years with regular play, though this varies dramatically based on usage and care. Professional-grade boards like Winmau Blade 5 or Target Unicorn typically outlast budget options by a significant margin.

Statistics

In 2016, Michael van Gerwen set a world record for the highest three-dart average in a major tournament at 123.40.
Statistical analysis reveals that professional players throw darts at an average speed of 40-60 miles per hour.
A standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered sections, with the bullseye at the center worth 50 points.
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship has been held since 1994, with Phil Taylor winning a record 14 titles.
Phil Taylor has hit a record 22 televised nine-dart finishes throughout his professional career.
The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).
The standard height from the floor to the bullseye on a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters).
A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."

External Links

How To

Throwing Technique: The Basics

The perfect dart throw is all about consistency. Your arm should move like a pendulum, with the elbow as the pivot point. The dart should travel in a straight line toward the target, not in an arc.