LUKE 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.
Littler was in tears after throwing the winning dart to claim what will surely be the first of many world titles.
LITTLER IS THE WORLD CHAMPION! 🏆
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 3, 2025
LUKE LITTLER ACHIEVES HIS DARTING DESTINY!
The 17-year-old sensation produces a spectacular display to defeat Michael van Gerwen 7-3 and create more history at Alexandra Palace!
📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj#WCDarts | Final pic.twitter.com/QbQgg2B1oA
He has spent the last 12 months proving that breakthrough run was not a fluke, winning 10 titles in 2024, including the Premier League and Grand Slam of Darts.
But this was the big one he wanted and it validates all the hype that has surrounded him over the last 12 months.
The rest of the darting world will be strapping themselves in for years of Littler domination and it is not outlandish to think he could one day surpass Phil Taylor’s record of 16 world titles.
The way he got the better of three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen showed he is the real deal.
Van Gerwen had caused Littler more trouble than anyone else on the tour in 2024 but the teenager got the better of proceedings when it mattered the most.
He averaged 102.73, threw 12 180s and took out 56 per cent of his doubles.
Friday night’s final was the hottest ticket in town as the two biggest names in the sport went head-to-head for the Sid Waddell Trophy.
It was expected to surpass the record 3.71m viewers that tuned in to last year’s final between Littler and Humphries when the teenager won a new army of fans.
For Van Gerwen, the wait for a first title since 2018 goes on and, although he has shown glimpses of his best throughout, defeat cements his position in Littler’s shadow.
The match was effectively over after just 24 minutes of action as Littler won 12 of the opening 15 legs to cruise into a 4-0 lead.
That was due to a mixture of Littler’s scoring power and a damagingly poor success rate on the doubles for Van Gerwen, who missed a host of important chances.
He finally got on the board with a 132 checkout but it was more of the same as Littler continued to keep him at arm’s length.
Littler got the job done with a double 16 to get his hands on the trophy.
What a player. Sensational darts.
@Aidan Farrell: awesome. To see a darting great like mvg completely powerless to stop him was something else
He’ll be dreaming about double 10 for a week. Thought MVG would be closer. Got to hand it to Littler. No sign of nerves or pressure tonight. Both over 100 averages. Was lost in the first few sets on the doubles for MVG.
Superb! And 500 grand to boot not bad for a pub game eh
@robert kelly: Tax man the real winner as always Rob. 45% tax on that 500k. He’ll take home around 250k. MVG will pocket around 100k. Tax man around 350k.
Nothing like watching the darts with a pie and chips and jug of lager…
He’s been dreaming of winning the World Championship since he was a kid
Something else. 17 years old and already at that level. Wow
@Jacob: and still time to settle back down now and focus on his leaving cert!!
@Joe Kennedy: crazy ! And 2 more chances to with it again as a teenager !
A massive utd fan..only thing wel be winning this year congrats to such a talented young man..well done to luke. That’s unbelievable
Crazy that darts is originally a pub game and the world champion isnt even old enough to but a pint…. Fair play to him some display. Great talent. Hope he keeps it up after discovering Guinness in a few months.
There’ll be no stopping him now.
Darts for the Olympics next…haha..
@Jb Walshe: I’d watch it over curling fencing or water polo any day :)
@Jb Walshe: I mean it’s nothing like archery or shooting, is it?
Great to see Phelan walk free, pity he didn’t shoot more of them
@John Nolan: John, perhaps for the new year, you could try to read about or talk with a wider range of people. You might become a nicer person if you do.
Have to hand it to Littler. Taking it all in his stride. Hope darts not becoming too soft but the growing interest with Littler on scene can only be good for the game.
Hes the new flavour of darts years ago they said the same about James Wade , Adrian Lewis , MVG and Michael Smith that these players will dominate after winning major titles. Let’s see how he gets on now will he let the spotlight get to him. I feel MVG hasn’t got his mojo going in years. He could of been up to 6 World titles by now but it’s a different pressure he will be under.
@Leighton Cullen: How many of them were in the final at 16/17??? As if he hasn’t been in the spotlight in the last year. He could end up doing a George Best but to suggest he isn’t a generational (at least) talent is a bit silly.