Littler’s Success Fuels Commercial Boom for Target Darts
The remarkable impact of Luke Littler on the sport’s commercial landscape has been underlined by new figures from his equipment sponsor, Target Darts. The company’s revenues have climbed from £17 million to £106.5 million in just four years, a period coinciding with the rise of the current world number one.
Littler, who first signed with the manufacturer at the age of 12, agreed a new ten-year deal in January reportedly worth £20 million. Target also serves as his management team, guiding a career that has seen him dominate the professional circuit in 2026. He has won every PDC major staged so far this year, including a successful defence of his World Matchplay title last month.
This individual success is part of a wider surge in the sport’s popularity. The 2025 World Championship, for instance, generated 51.2 million viewing hours in the UK, the highest figure recorded for any non-football sporting event.
Humphries Heads Field in Budapest as Wade Withdraws
The PDC European Tour returns this weekend with the Hungarian Darts Trophy, which runs from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August at the MVM Dome in Budapest. A field of 48 players will compete for a total prize fund of £230,000, with the winner set to receive £35,000. Germany’s Niko Springer arrives as the surprise defending champion after his 8-7 victory over Danny Noppert in last year’s final.
The field is headed by Luke Humphries, who enters the tournament having reached a significant career milestone. A victory at a Players Championship event on Tuesday saw ‘Cool Hand Luke’ reach his 30th Pro Tour final, a landmark achieved in just over five years. This consistency has made him one of the most reliable performers on the circuit, and he will be among the favourites in any darts betting guide for the title in Hungary.
There has been a late change to the draw, however, with James Wade pulling out of the event after it was made. Under PDC rules, he is replaced directly in the bracket by Madars Razma, who will now take Wade’s seeded second-round spot on Saturday. Gerwyn Price had also withdrawn from the tournament prior to the draw and was replaced by Callan Rydz.
Belgian Feud Resolved
Away from the oche, Belgian professionals Mike De Decker and Kim Huybrechts have announced that they have resolved their long-running dispute. The feud between the compatriots, which had lasted for more than two years, became public knowledge in early 2024 when footage emerged of a heated verbal exchange at a PDC tournament.
The incident caused considerable disruption within Belgian darts and was seen to affect cooperation between the nation’s top players, particularly in team events such as the World Cup of Darts. The pair have now drawn a line under the conflict and are said to be back on normal terms.
