By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2025-01-03 22:49:03 | Updated at 2025-01-06 01:38:25
2 days ago
Incredible Luke Littler etched his name into darting history with a crushing 7-3 victory over Michael van Gerwen to become the youngest ever PDC World Championship winner.
The 17-year-old was in unstoppable form as he raced into a 4-0 lead, and despite Van Gerwen getting three sets on the board, he never really threatened a comeback and was always in Littler's rear mirror.
Van Gerwen was the previous youngest champion when he won the first of his three world titles in 2014 aged 24, but darting phenomenon Littler smashed that record just as easily as he dealt with the Dutchman on the Alexandra Palace stage.
Warrington teenager Littler averaged just over 102 and threw 12 180s in a darting masterclass as he claimed the £500,000 first prize and lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy for the first time.
With the way he handled the pressure of being the favourite and the manner of his performances still three weeks short of his 18th birthday, it surely is just the first of many.
Littler was pipped by Luke Humphries in last year's final and when the world number one went out in the fourth round this year, the trophy looked to be there for the taking.
Van Gerwen has not been at his best this season but facing a three-time winner appearing in his seventh final still represented a tough test for the youngster.
Littler is not built like your average darts player though, and he showed no signs of nerves when racing into that 4-0 lead - albeit helped by some dodgy finishing by Van Gerwen.
The 35-year-old was scoring well but either missed darts at doubles or failed to even get down to a shot at the outer ring - which resulted in him winning just three legs in those first four sets.
Van Gerwen finished with a 100 average himself and one more 180 than Littler with 13, but hitting just 14 of 38 on his doubles was never going to cut it against the game's new superstar.
"I can't believe it," Littler told Sky Sports. "We both played so well.
"I've said in interviews that I needed to get off to a quick start tonight and that's what I did.
"Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy. You've got to get through a tough field. I can't believe it."
After bursting onto the scene at least year's World Championship, 'The Nuke' went on to win 10 titles and hit four nine-darters in 2024 and took that form to Alexandra Palace.
Littler averaged more than 100 in five of his six matches and led the tournament with 76 maximums to win the Ballon D'Art trophy for top 180 hitter - although he did fail to match Michael Smith's record of 83 set in 2022.
Not that Littler will care after a tournament where he was operating at a different level to the rest.
The relentless scoring is one thing, that magical double 10 he hardly misses is another, but Littler also has that perfect timing - hitting 180s and nailing big checkouts at crucial moments that just mentally grind his opponents into submission.
A certain Phil Taylor won his first BDO world title 35 years ago this year, and there's more than a hint of 'The Power' about Littler's game.
At Littler's age, Taylor's record of 16 world titles could be in serious danger.
