Luke Littler became the youngest ever world champion of darts with a brilliant display in the final at Alexandra Palace, blowing away three-time winner Michael van Gerwen to win 7-3.
Littler, 17, was beaten by world No 1 Luke Humphries in last year’s final, but he returned to the same stage 12 months later and made no mistake this time, overwhelming his esteemed opponent with peerless finishing to race into a 4-0 lead.
Van Gerwen appeared nervous in the opening forays and struggled to settle, competing gamely with his three-dart scoring but missing an array of doubles to give up winning positions. The Dutchman battled back in the latter stages but it was too little, too late, as the teenage superstar from Warrington cemented his name among the greats of the sport – and began what many believe will be a new era of dominance.
Follow all the reaction from Luke Littler’s victory at the World Darts Championship below.
World Darts Championship final LIVE
- Luke Littler thrashes Michael van Gerwen 7-3 to win his first World Darts Championship title
- The 17-year-old Littler broke MvG’s record as the youngest darts world champion in history
- ANALYSIS: The Luke Littler era has officially begun – and it goes well beyond darts | Luke Baker
Luke Littler on his journey to stardom after winning world title
11:30 , Jamie Braidwood“I started off 18 months in a nappy on a magnetic board. But to keep at it. Obviously, when I’d say to my mates, I’ve got a darts competitions.
“They would say ‘Darts?’ Have you not seen it?. But I’ve come a long way. Me and my family have come a long way.
“There probably will be a big purchase when I get my head around the amount of money I’ve won, but I have said it in other interviews, I don’t like to talk about the money, but it is there.”
Luke Littler had ‘visions’ of world title win after re-run of last year’s final
10:30 , Jamie BraidwoodLuke Littler’s charge to his first World Championship title was inspired by watching a re-run of last year’s final defeat to Luke Humphries.
Littler became the youngest world champion ever when he demolished Michael van Gerwen in a one-sided final at Alexandra Palace to avenge the heartache of 12 months ago.
The 17-year-old, who justified his status as the biggest name in the sport, prepared for Friday night’s blockbusting clash with the three-time champion by reminding himself of where it went wrong against Humphries.
Luke Littler had ‘visions’ of world title win after re-run of last year’s final
History-making Luke Littler sets sights on Phil Taylor’s World Championship record
09:30 , Jamie BraidwoodLuke Littler believes he can hunt down Phil Taylor’s record of 16 world titles after becoming the youngest ever champion.
The 17-year-old consolidated his status as the biggest star in the game by winning the World Championship with a 7-3 demolition of Michael van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace.
Littler has already achieved things away from the oche that the great Taylor could never do by transcending the sport, but says he also has the talent – and time – to match his sporting records as well.
History-making Luke Littler sets sights on Phil Taylor’s World Championship record
From Rooney to Raducanu – the other teenage sensations Luke Littler is emulating
06:00 , Chris WilsonLuke Littler became the youngest darts world champion on Friday night as his amazing teenage dream continued.
The 17-year-old claimed an historic place in the sport as he defeated Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the Alexandra Palace final, having fallen at the final hurdle a year ago.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of sport’s other teenage prodigies in recent years.
From Rooney to Raducanu – the other teenage sensations Luke Littler is emulating
Luke Littler hammers Michael van Gerwen to win first World Championship
05:00 , Chris WilsonLuke Littler realised his dream by winning the World Championship after bulldozing his way past Michael van Gerwen.
The 17-year-old sensation beat Van Gerwen 7-3 in a one-sided final to become the youngest ever world champion.
Victory consolidates his position as the top dog in the sport and avenges the final defeat he suffered to Luke Humphries on debut last year.
Luke Littler hammers Michael van Gerwen to win first World Championship
Premier League Darts 2025 Schedule
04:00 , Chris WilsonNight 1 - The SSE Arena, Belfast - Thursday February 6
Night 2 - OVO Hydro, Glasgow - Thursday February 13
Night 3 - 3Arena, Dublin - Thursday February 20
Night 4 - Westpoint Exeter - Thursday February 27
Night 5 - The Brighton Centre - Thursday March 6
Night 6 - Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham - Thursday March 13
Night 7 - Utilita Arena, Cardiff - Thursday March 20
Night 8 - Utilita Arena, Newcastle - Thursday March 27
Night 9 - Uber Arena, Berlin - Thursday April 3
Night 10 - AO Arena, Manchester - Thursday April 10
Night 11 - Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam - Thursday April 17
Night 12 - M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool - Thursday April 24
Night 13 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 - First Direct Arena, Leeds - Thursday May 8
Night 15 - P&J Live, Aberdeen - Thursday May 15
Night 16 - Utilita Arena, Sheffield - Thursday May 22
Play-Offs - The O2, London - Thursday May 29
When will the 2025 Premier League Darts line-up be announced?
03:00 , Chris WilsonThe PDC will confirm the eight players set to battle it out in the Premier League 2025 on Monday 6 January at 4:30pm GMT.
Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen are essentially guaranteed to be in the competition.
Rob Cross, Stephen Bunting and Gerwyn Price are in contention alongside Michael Smith, Nathan Aspinall and Damon Heta, while Callan Rydz, Chris Dobey, Peter Wright and Mike De Decker are outside shouts to feature.
Premier League Darts 2025: Schedule, tickets, venues and potential line-up including Luke Littler
02:00 , Chris WilsonWith the World Championship coming to an end, attention will quickly turn to Premier League Darts, with Belfast’s SSE Arena hosting the opening night of the new season on 6 February in 2025, leaving just a month between the final at ‘Ally Pally’ and the start of a wild tour throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe with 17 venues in total.
Reigning champion Littler will return, having produced nine darts from the gods on his way to victory in May, while world No. 1 Luke Humphries is sure to be back, as eight players battle for both the prestigious title and £1m in prize money.
The season-ending Play-Offs conclude on an action-packed night at The O2 in London on 29 May, with the final places up for grabs in the coming days.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 Premier League and a potential line-up.
Premier League Darts 2025: Schedule, tickets, venues and line-up
Luke Littler, 17, becomes youngest world darts champion by beating Michael van Gerwen 7-3
01:00 , Chris WilsonLuke Littler became the youngest world champion in darts history on Friday when the 17-year-old Englishman lived up to his billing as Britain’s latest sporting superstar.
Littler beat three-time champion Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final at a boisterous Alexandra Palace in London.
It completes the remarkable rise of Littler, a prodigy from Warrington in northwest England who first threw a dart as an 18-month-old toddler, was junior world champion in 2023 and reached the world final last year — at age 16 — before losing to top-ranked Luke Humphries.
Luke Littler, 17, becomes youngest world darts champion by beating Michael van Gerwen 7-3
How the Luke Littler effect made darts the sport of 2024
00:00 , Chris WilsonIn one of the all-time great pieces of nominative determinism, the man at the epicentre of the poker boom was called Chris Moneymaker.
Moneymaker found himself in the eye of a perfect storm: interest in poker surged after the 1998 film Rounders starring Matt Damon and Ed Norton, at a time when the internet’s arrival spawned poker websites which drew millions of American players. In 2003, ESPN took a punt televising the biggest event in poker, the World Series.
They struck gold with Moneymaker, an accountant from Georgia who became the world champion, beating 852 opponents and turning his $40 buy-in into the $2.5m winner’s prize. He was an ordinary American Joe and his story had an inspirational effect. People who’d never before picked up a deck of cards suddenly wanted to be the next Moneymaker.
Two decades on, there is something of Moneymaker in the Luke Littler story. Like Moneymaker, Littler doesn’t necessarily look like the archetypal sporting superstar, and there is something relatable in that. Moneymaker was an ordinary accountant, and Littler is an ordinary teenager who likes computer games and junk food. Against the backdrop of his humanity, his godly talent is all the more mesmerising to watch.
And right now, Littler is having a similar effect on the game of darts as poker once felt, a niche game going mainstream.
When will Littler next play darts?
Friday 3 January 2025 23:30 , Chris WilsonLittler’s next match will be the opener of the Premier League Darts tournament, where he will face a rematch of this final – straight away, another match against van Gerwen.
That will likely take place on 6 February in Belfast.
LITTLER WINS THE WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday 3 January 2025 23:15 , Chris WilsonAs well as the title and £500,000 in prize money, Littler will now move to a career-high PDC ranking of second. He can add that to the 10 titles won in his debut year, and the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Award.
Luke Littler fulfils destiny to become youngest darts world champion on emotional night at Alexandra Palace
Friday 3 January 2025 22:54 , Chris WilsonDarts has a new world champion, and he’s a 17-year-old boy from Warrington. Luke Littler first picked up a set of magnetic darts bought by his dad from a pound shop while he was still in nappies, and was throwing 180s before most children could count that high. The journey from freakishly talented toddler to champion of the world ended on stage here at Alexandra Palace as he took down the sport’s modern alpha specimen, Michael van Gerwen, with a ruthless display of finishing, toying with him, bullying him, racing into a 4-0 lead and eventually winning 7-3.
Littler almost won his first world title in fittingly outrageous style, hitting bullseye twice on a pinprick but missing double 16 for the trophy. A moment later he returned to the oche for another shot with three darts in his hand, took a deep breath and muttered “come on” to himself. The crowd rose, camera phones hoisted over their heads like an offering to their new god. Littler hit double 16 at the second attempt, dropped his head into his hands and let the tears flow.
The analysts had foretold one of the great world championship finals as two geniuses of the game pushed each other to higher and higher levels. In truth it was often nervy and scrappy and riddled with mistakes, amid flecks of natural brilliance.
Luke Littler fulfils destiny to become youngest darts world champion
The Luke Littler era has officially begun – and it goes well beyond darts
Friday 3 January 2025 22:30 , Chris WilsonWhether he beat or lost to Michael van Gerwen on the Alexandra Palacestage on Friday night, Luke Littler was always going to leave his second World Darts Championship as a winner. After all, he is the catalyst for and the face of the ongoing darts boom – all as a 17-year-old.
As it happened, Littler rubber-stamped his status as a generational talent and completed his coronation as King of the Palace by taking his first world title in ruthlessly impressive fashion.
From a break of throw in the opening leg of the match, to a 11-darter when he smelt weakness in the second set, to a 4-0 lead that turned into a crushing 7-3 triumph thanks to a 102.73 average and a superb 56 per cent success rate on the doubles, Littler dismantled the three-time world champion.
The Luke Littler era has officially begun – and it goes well beyond darts
LITTLER WINS THE WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday 3 January 2025 22:25 , Chris Wilson
Van Gerwen: “Every 17 years a star is born"
Friday 3 January 2025 22:17 , Chris WilsonOn his loss, van Gerwen said: “Early doors, I’ve fallen behind, and after that I wasn’t going myself justice.
“ I think after going 4-0 down, I was definitely not the worst player out of us. Fair play to him, every chance he got, every moment he had to hurt me, he did it.
“I always say, every 17 years a star is born, and he’s one of them.
“I had a lovely tournament and I enjoyed every moment of this ride.
On the match, he adds: “At the beginning of the game I was letting myself down too much, and when you play a player with his ability, you’re going to be in trouble.
“It is what it is, you have to move on. He did well and he deserved it, what can I say. Of course it hurts, but that’s how it should be.
“I have to move on, I have to make sure I keep playing better,” he adds.
LITTLER WINS THE WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday 3 January 2025 22:14 , Chris Wilson
Littler: “I can’t believe it"
Friday 3 January 2025 22:10 , Chris WilsonLittler is the first to speak to Sky Sports, and he says he “can’t believe” the result.
“We both played so well, and I said in my interviews I needed to get off to a good start and that’s what I’ve done.
“He was right behind me the whole way through.
“Everyone dreams of lifting the trophy, but you’ve got to get through a tough field. I cant believe it,” he adds.
“That first game [against Meikle], I keep saying it, but it’s the game that really mattered. I’ve just settled.
“I was practising backstage on the tops and 10s. 2-0 up I started getting nervous, I said to myself just relax. To get it over and done with then was special.”
On what he’s learned from last year’s loss, he said: “I learned a lot, last year in the semis against Rob Cross that was the first time I was 1-0 down.
“Tonight and throughout the tournament, I needed to go out and make a good start.
“Earlier today I watched all the game back against luke, and I had the visions.
“I could end 2025 winning nothing, but i picked up the best, but obviously I want to get more. If I end 2025 with nothing [else], I’ve picked the big one up.”
LITTLER WINS THE WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday 3 January 2025 22:02 , Chris WilsonLittler lifts the Sid Waddell Trophy in front of a jubilant Ally Pally crowd, and we’ll have some quotes soon.
LITTLER WINS THE WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday 3 January 2025 21:59 , Chris WilsonLittler 7-3 van Gerwen
Plenty of emotion from Littler as he realises the enormity of what he’s done. He’s embraced by van Gerwen, who’s gracious in defeat.
Littler has now won the 2024 Premier League, the 2024 World Series Finals, the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts and the 2025 World Darts Championship.
LITTLER WINS THE WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday 3 January 2025 21:56 , Chris WilsonLittler 7-3 van Gerwen
Littler has the throw now, of course, and this leg is tighter than the last. he works it down to 132, needing two bulls and a double 16...
He hits two straight bulls, but misses double 16! What a finish that would’ve been.
It feels like just a matter of time now...and the 17-year-old lands the double 16 at the second time of asking to take the title!
Littler vs van Gerwen - 6-3 (2-0)
Friday 3 January 2025 21:53 , Chris WilsonLittler with the throw to start this one – he gets down to 48, with MVG needing 137, but he misses tops. Littler moves it around for double 10, lands it, and he’s within two legs of the title.
In the next leg, Littler lands a brilliant 171 that draws plenty of shouts, and he needs 62 to take the leg – he takes it, landing tops to move within ONE LEG of the world title!
Littler 6-3 van Gerwen - Van Gerwen wins the ninth set!
Friday 3 January 2025 21:51 , Chris WilsonLittler looks confused as his throws go wide of the mark and he’s broken, with van Gerwen taking the set 3-1!
Littler vs van Gerwen - 6-2 (1-2)
Friday 3 January 2025 21:49 , Chris Wilson180 straight away to start with from MVG, and Littler can only respond with 96 and 58.
Van Gerwen’s 140 leaves 66 needed, and he takes 50 before landing double eight. 2-1 here, and Littler needs the next leg to force a decider.
Littler vs van Gerwen - 6-2 (1-1)
Friday 3 January 2025 21:47 , Chris WilsonLittler hits the 24th 180 of the match so far, leaving himself needing 164 – he gets the trebles, but misses the bullseye! Van Gerwen punishes him with a 14-darter of his own, finding double 16 to hold throw.
Littler’s throw goes smoothly, running the score down to 40 before landing tops to level it.
Littler 6-2 van Gerwen - Littler wins eighth set!
Friday 3 January 2025 21:42 , Chris WilsonWe could be just a few minutes away from seeing Littler crowned champion, though van Gerwen does start with the throw in this upcoming set.
In terms of stats, of the 37 attempts that Littler has had at a winning double, he’s hit 21 of them (or 56.76 per cent).
Littler 6-2 van Gerwen - Littler wins eighth set!
Friday 3 January 2025 21:40 , Chris WilsonA 112.16 average for Littler after his first visit of the third leg, but van Gerwen makes some ground with a 180. 89 leaves him needing 92, with Littler needing 64 – but he misses the double 18!
And Littler lands tops to take himself to within one set of the title!
Littler vs van Gerwen - 5-2 (2-0)
Friday 3 January 2025 21:38 , Chris Wilson124 to open the next set for Littler, who has the throw. He follows up with 140 and 97, leaving himself needing 130. He’s in control, but misses the bull to leave 25.
A five and a double 10 up next? He finds them both to hold and take the first leg.
Van Gerwen takes it down to 128 needed – but he can’t get it, taking 44, and Littler completes an 11-darter to go 2-0 up!
Van Gerwen is clinging on
Friday 3 January 2025 21:32 , Lawrence OstlereVan Gerwen has lifted his game since the break and certainly upped his finishing rate, which couldn’t have got much worse in truth. He’s now taking 11 from 35 double attempts, having been down at just two from 18 at one point.
We have a match on here and the next set, with Littler to throw first, feels absolutely pivotal to the destiny of the 2025 world title.
Littler 5-2 van Gerwen - van Gerwen wins seventh set!
Friday 3 January 2025 21:30 , Chris WilsonVan Gerwen takes the next leg, holding throw with a double 14, but Littler also holds after checking out on 124 to level the set.
In the third, Littler takes a 180 on his second visit, but with van Gerwen needing 81, is it enough?
It isn’t, as the Dutchman checks out for a 12-dart leg.
It’s Littler’s throw next, so will we see a decider? He lands top to take it!
It’s MVG’s throw though, and he starts with a 180 – promising, but Littler replies with a maximum of his own to put the pressure on.
Van Gerwen needs tops to take the set – and he nails it, so we’re at 5-2!
Littler 5-1 van Gerwen -Littler wins the sixth set!
Friday 3 January 2025 21:22 , Chris WilsonAnother 180 to start for Littler, but the nine-darter goes with his next throw. He whittles down the score to need 87, and checks out after finding double 10.
One more leg for the set – he’s averaging 113.
He gets from 227 to 127, but leaves himself needing 42 – and van Gerwen punishes him, forcing a decider by finding double 16.
Littler begins the next leg with a maximum, and follows with 100.
The 17-year-old needs 128, with MVG needing 185...
Littler knows he has time, so he takes it down to 35, waits for van Gerwen to visit and lands his trusty double 10 to take the sixth set!
Littler vs van Gerwen - 4-1 (1-1)
Friday 3 January 2025 21:18 , Chris WilsonLittler begins with a 180, and straight away he lands another, to the delight of the Ally Pally crowd – but the next dart hits treble one.
72 needed, but he only takes 32 – no matter as he’s over 200 clear of van Gerwen, and he holds throw by landing double 16.
Next leg, and it MVG’s turn for a 180, but an 80 afterwards leaves him needing 157, while Littler needs the big fish.
Van Gerwen takes 91, Littler takes 64...and the Englishman misses tops to break!
The Dutchman saves himself with double one.
Littler 4-1 van Gerwen - Van Gerwen wins the fifth set!
Friday 3 January 2025 21:10 , Chris WilsonLittler takes himself down to the 170, but settles needing 36.
And van Gerwen is on the board after breaking the throw in a pretty impressive manner, checking out on 132 and finishing with a bullseye!
The Dutchman has a way back into it.
Littler vs van Gerwen - 4-0 (1-2)
Friday 3 January 2025 21:08 , Chris WilsonIt’s van Gerwen to open this set, and both lands early 180s. The Dutchman pulls ahead and both miss their respective checkouts, before MVG then takes the first leg with a double 10, checking out on 53.
Littler whittles the second leg down to 130, and nails tops to level the set. Simple stuff to hold. 98.63 average for the youngster at the moment.
Littler then lands 180 to leave himself needing 164, with van Gerwen needing 80 – he gets it, finishing on double 10, so both players have held so far.
Littler ruthlessly routing Van Gerwen
Friday 3 January 2025 21:00 , Luke BakerThis is a complete demolition of Van Gerwen by Littler and is turning into a rout. MvG’s doubling has been nowhere near good enough at a paltry 18% and Littler has picked his moments to ruthlessly expose the Dutchman.
The leg count now stands at 12-3 in Littler’s favour and he had Van Gerwen literally scratching his head at points in that fourth set. Of course last year, Littler led Luke Humphries 4-2 in the final and missed a dart at double two to move 5-2 ahead before losing 7-4.
It’s hard to see any sort of similar collapse from here - in fact, the question has to be whether MvG an even get a set on the board...? 7-0 seems far-fetched but...
Littler 4-0 van Gerwen - Littler wins the fourth set!
Friday 3 January 2025 20:59 , Chris WilsonA few grimaces from van Gerwen as he goes astray with his first throws, but he lands 180 to claw back some ground. He needs 70 to break – but he lands wide of double 16!
He gets away with it though, as Littler misses the same spot twice, and the Dutchman is finally on the board in this set.
Another 180 for van Gerwen in the next leg, and he has control of this one. 128 to check out, but he misses it.
170 for Littler to do it – he lands the two trebles, but not the bull!
And more drama as van Gerwen goes bust! Littler makes no mistake once more, landing five and his favourite double 10 for 4-0.
This is only going one way at the moment...
Littler vs van Gerwen - 3-0 (2-0)
Friday 3 January 2025 20:55 , Chris WilsonVan Gerwen needs 124 to checkout but all three of his throws go wide. He looks perplexed, and then Littler punishes him to hold with another double 10.
The youngster lands a 180 on his next visit to the Oche, and he needs 88 – he finds it, finishing on double seven! His second four-visit leg of the match.
Littler 3-0 van Gerwen - Littler wins third set!
Friday 3 January 2025 20:51 , Chris WilsonLittler drags it wide of double 10 to let the Dutchman off, but he can’t check out on 91 and Littler lands it at the second time of asking to break the throw! He was centimetres off losing 2-1 there!
The next leg starts with maximum for van Gerwen, while Littler leaves 170 for his third visit – and the crowd almost goes wild as he lands two treble 20s before finding 25.
No problem for Littler as he finds five and double 10 to take the third set too.
Littler vs van Gerwen - 2-0 (1-1)
Friday 3 January 2025 20:48 , Chris WilsonA couple of throws go awry for both early on, with MVG whittling down 122 to 24 before landing D12 to take the first leg.
In the second, Littler leaves himself needing 170, with the Dutchman needing 40, but he can’t land the second T20.
However, Littler gets a second chance as van Gerwen throws over tops!
And Littler takes the leg as he lands the double five.
Littler in control after first two sets
Friday 3 January 2025 20:43 , Lawrence OstlereThat was utterly ruthless by Littler, hitting his favourite double 10 twice to sweep his way to the second set. The opening set was nervy and he averaged only 93.28, but his match average is over 100 after that flurry of big scores. There’s a long, long way to go, but Van Gerwen really needs a response here to avoid being totally blown away...
Littler vs van Gerwen - Littler wins second set
Friday 3 January 2025 20:43 , Chris WilsonThe third set will be underway soon. Are we beginning to see how this will pan out, or will van Gerwen fight back in this one?
Littler vs van Gerwen - Littler wins second set
Friday 3 January 2025 20:39 , Chris WilsonUnlucky from van Gerwen as he misses bull and takes 25, and Littler finds double 10 once again to take the second set.
Littler vs van Gerwen - 1-0 (2-0)
Friday 3 January 2025 20:37 , Chris WilsonLittler throwing first in the second set, so can he consolidate his early advantage?
It’s van Gerwen with the first 180 of the leg, but Littler immediately responds with his own maximum, before narrowly missing the bull for a 12-dart leg. He’s not fussed though, as he checks out with the double 10.
Another 180 from Littler to give himself the chance to break, and after MVG misses tops, Littler needs it for 2-0...and he nails it!
Littler vs van Gerwen - Littler wins the first set!
Friday 3 January 2025 20:30 , Chris WilsonWe have another 180 from MVG to open the deciding leg, but this is “B-game stuff” at the moment.
Littler whittles it down to 80, lands the treble 20 and double 10, and he takes the first set!
Luke Littler settles more quickly to make early statement
Friday 3 January 2025 20:29 , Luke Baker at Alexandra PalaceA horror first leg for Van Gerwen as he missed three darts at a double, including busting his score, and Littler made him pay by nailing double tops at the first attempt to break the throw. Not how the Dutchman wanted to begin his seventh world final.
After a Littler hold followed, MvG at least got a leg on the board and a 180 in leg four looked to be putting the pressure on the Englishman. But the teenager hit back to win the opening set 3-1. Statement made and a fist pump to the crowd.
The fans were a little quieter than normal throughout that first set as they were so engrossed in the action but I’m sure they’ll liven up as this final progresses.
Littler vs van Gerwen - 2-1
Friday 3 January 2025 20:28 , Chris WilsonLittler had opened up a lead in the second leg but he doesn’t really take advantage initially, dragging a couple into five.
No problem for the youngster though as he nails double 10 to take the second leg!
In leg three it’s 161 v 153 to checkout, and they narrow it down to 88 and 52.
Littler has the chance to take the set with a double seven, but he misses, and van Gerwen is on the board.
Littler vs van Gerwen - Littler breaks in opening leg
Friday 3 January 2025 20:25 , Chris WilsonThe first 180 of the day comes from van Gerwen to leave 25...but he goes bust!
Littler misses his own chance to leave himself on 55, but miraculously, van Gerwen misses all three again – unable to land double four – and Littler breaks the throw at the first time of asking!
World Darts Championship final LIVE
Friday 3 January 2025 20:22 , Chris WilsonWarm-ups are out of the way, and we’re getting started at Ally Pally!
‘One Luke Littler’ chants are a lot more audible now.
Van Gerwen wins the walk-ons
Friday 3 January 2025 20:20 , Luke Baker at Alexandra PalaceGreenlight by Pitbull rings round Ally Pally as Luke Littler takes to the stage first. A decent walk-on that the crowd are relatively into and Littler certainly looks relaxed as he shakes hands with the officials and claps the crowd. Then it’s game-face time for the teenager.
As ever, Michael van Gerwen’s walk-on is an absolute riot. Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes blares out and the “oh, Michael van Gerwen chants” are as loud as ever. MvG looks focused and fist bumps the officials before embracing Littler.
This could be epic!
World Darts Championship final LIVE
Friday 3 January 2025 20:18 , Chris WilsonFormer champion John Part is the only panellist not to predict a Littler win. The 17-year-old is the first to walk out.
Littler the man in form against underdog Van Gerwen
Friday 3 January 2025 20:16 , Luke Baker at Alexandra PalaceLuke Littler has been in better form than Michael van Gerwen over the past fortnight at Ally Pally. He has the higher tournament average at 102.13 to 99.75, while he’s hit 64 180s to MvG’s 43.
This will be the first world final that Van Gerwen has been the underdog for since his first against Phil Taylor back in 2013, when Taylor won 7-4.
Will Mighty Mike relish that or be perturbed by it? We’re about to find out
Littler vs Van Gerwen head to head
Friday 3 January 2025 20:10 , Chris WilsonThe players are in the building now, and the main event is approaching.
A reminder that these two players are 6-6 in their own head-to-head record so far. So will van Gerwen win his fourth title, or will it be Littler becoming the youngest winner ever?
