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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Alex Young

Luke Littler maps out 2025 plans after winning first darts world title

Champion: Luke Littler - (AFP via Getty Images)

Luke Littler has set out his 2025 aims after being crowned the best darts player in the world.

The 17-year-old claimed a historic place in the sport as he defeated Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the World Darts Championship final, 12 months on from losing the final at the age of just 16.

It capped a meteoric year for the teenager, which was his first as a professional.

Littler won 10 titles during 2024, including the Premier League and Grand Slam of Darts and rose from 164th to fourth in the world rankings.

Luke Littler celebrates (Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)

He turns 18 years old later in January and, regarding what he has planed for the rest of the year he told Sky Sports: "Anything. I could end 2025 winning absolutely nothing, but I've picked up the best [prize].

"I want to get more than 10 titles this year, but if I end 2025 with nothing, I've picked the big one up."

Littler raced into a 4-0 set lead over Van Gerwen, who was slow to start and made numerous mistakes before fighting back to 7-3 in front of 3,200 inside Alexandra Palace.

Luke Littler with the Sid Waddell Trophy (Action Images via Reuters)

The teenager said: "I can't believe it. I've said in interviews that I needed to get off to a quick start tonight and that's what I did. But he was behind me the whole game, those cover shots - he'd hit two trebles and I'd have to come back with two or three.

"Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy. You've got to get through a tough field. I can't believe it. I keep saying it but that first game against Ryan Meikle [in round two] was the one that really mattered, and throughout I've just settled.

"At 2-0 up [in the final set] I started getting nervous but I said to myself to just relax. I was throwing for the match and to get it over and done with then was special."

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