NEXT STOP: TOP OF THE WORLD!

LUKE LITTLER believes he is closing in on the world No.1 spot after landing his fifth TV major crown in 10 months.

- MIKE WALTERS

Fired up by his beloved Manchester United's FA Cup exit on Sunday evening, Luke the Nuke stormed to the Ladbrokes UK Open title in Minehead (right) as the bottom fell out of rejuvenated James Wade's fairytale run to the final.

Littler's crushing 11-2 win against the 'Machine' earned him another £110,000 pocket money, topping up his aggregate prize money to nearly £1.25million on the Professional Darts Corporation order of merit.

The charts are based on prize money won in ranking tournaments over a two-year period - so they don't even include Littler's £315,000 loot from winning the invitational Premier League last May.