Darts teenage sensation Luke Littler is all-but guaranteed to win the ‘Ballon d’Art’ award even if he loses to Michael van Gerwen in the World Championship final.
Littler takes on Michael Van Gerwen in tonight’s World Championship finalCredit: Rex
That puts him 21 ahead of Van Gerwen and Callan Rydz, all-but guaranteeing Littler the most for the tournament.
In fact, the 17-year-old can set the record for the most maximums ever at one World Championship if he lands 19 against Van Gerwen.
That would see him overtake Michael Smith, who hit 83 during the 2022 event.
Last year, sponsors Paddy Power introduced the ‘Ballon d’Art’ award, which goes to the player who gets the most 180s.
The betting company have teamed up with Prostate UK for their BIGGER 180 campaign, which sees £1,000 donated to the charity for each maximum.
An incredible £60,000 also goes to Prostate UK for every nine-darter.
After reaching the final last year, Littler was left to settle for second place when facing world number one Luke Humphries, who also took home the Ballon d’Art.
The award – which is a nod to football’s famous Ballon d’Or – technically translates to ‘Art Balloon’ – making it the subject of ridicule among fans.
The trophy is also absurdly large – but it is all in the name of charity.
Speaking on a video on TikTok last month, Littler revealed his darts have a ‘longer point’ on them which helps him land more 180s than his rivals.
2
Luke Humphries won the first-ever Ballon d’Art, awarded by Paddy PowerCredit: Rex
“I have a longer point because when my darts sit in the board, there’s more room of getting a 180 or a 140, whereas if you’ve got small points they’ll go through the board and then it’s harder to get a 180.”
His technique clearly pays off too, hitting 19 180s against Stephen Bunting in a 6-1 victory to seal his place in the final.
His opponent Van Gerwen also secured a 6-1 win, beating Chris Dobey in the semis.
Heading into the final, Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is now the favourite to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy, at just 17 years of age.
Van Gerwen is currently the youngest PDC World Champion to date, winning aged 24 in 2014, but Littler is now just a few throws away from that feat himself.
Littler’s rise to stardom has not only planted himself in the centre of the media’s attention over the last year, but has also skyrocketed the popularity of darts as a sport.
2025 World Darts Championship
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Speaking ahead of the final, Littler said: “It’s been an amazing tournament so far. People would say I was looking at the title throughout the tournament.
“After the first game against Ryan Meikle, I have just beat what was in front of me.
“I’ve played a lot better. I’ve won plenty of titles leading up to this. That’s what we do.
“There are majors all year around and I can’t wait for tomorrow night.”
It will be held at Ally Pally in north London and walk-ons will start from around 8.10pm with the action slated to get under way at 8.30pm.
Tune intotalkSPORT for coverage of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship final from 7pm on Friday, as we bring you exclusive live commentary from Alexandra Palace. Listen via our web player, app, on DAB, or through your smart speaker.
Luke Littler, the dark horse of the darts world, has all but guaranteed himself a bizarre trophy even if he loses to the formidable Michael van Gerwen. Littler, known for his unorthodox playing style and unpredictable antics on the oche, has captured the hearts of fans and critics alike with his fearless approach to the game.
While van Gerwen may be the favorite to win the upcoming match, Littler’s sheer determination and unique skill set make him a force to be reckoned with. And even if he doesn’t come out on top, Littler is sure to walk away with the coveted “Most Entertaining Player” trophy, a title he has unofficially claimed in the hearts of darts enthusiasts around the world.
So, while the outcome of the match may be uncertain, one thing is for sure – Luke Littler is a player to watch, and win or lose, he is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on the darts world.
The second set was so much better, exhilarating in fact. MvG averaged 114 and didn’t win a leg. If he doesn’t take the upcoming third set on throw, he will be in an ocean of doodoo.
Averages Littler 115.62 Van Gerwen 113.67
Checkouts Littler 60% (3/5) Van Gerwen 0% (0/3)
180s Littler 2 Van Gerwen 2
Littler wins the second set 3-0!
Littler 2-0 Van Gerwen (Littler 3-0) With Littler on 96, MvG – way back on 308 – gambles by going for a third treble 20. He hits it to leave 128, and he gets a shot when Littler can’t go double-double.
MvG hits 18 and 60 before missing the bull for a break back. Littler cleans up, of course he does, to lead 2-0 in sets and 6-1 in legs. The force is terrifyingly strong in this one.
Work to do for the three-time champ. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters
Littler breaks! Littler 1-0 Van Gerwen (legs 2-0) Littler has returned from the break with his scoring boots on. MvG is scoring beautifully now, too, but he has been very poor on the doubles. He misses two at tops – both by a long way – to take out 100 for a 12-darter. Littler punishes him, and rubs it in, by hitting tops for an 11-dart break. MvG is in trouble, already.
Littler 1-0 Van Gerwen (legs 1-0) Van Gerwen pops his third 180; Littler responds immediately with his first to keep control of the leg on throw. He misses the bull for a 121, Van Gerwen gets nowhere near 170 and Littler returns to do the necessary on – you guessed it – double 10.
It was a low-quality first set, in truth, which makes it even more concerning for MvG that he lost the throw.
Averages Littler 93.28 Van Gerwen 91.35
Checkouts Littler 50% Van Gerwen 25%
180s Littler 0 Van Gerwen 2
Littler wins the first set against the throw!
Littler 1-0 Van Gerwen (legs 3-1) Van Gerwen hits a 180 to put pressure on the Littler throw. He can’t build on it, though, and after 12 darts both men are on 80. Littler has first crack and takes care of business with a dart to spare: treble 20, double 10, the end.
Luke Littler wins the opening set! Photograph: James Fearn/Getty Images
Littler 0-0 Van Gerwen (legs 2-1) Neither player is scoring fluently; nowhere near in fact. Littler misses two set darts for a clean sweep (14 and 7), which allows Van Gerwen to pin D16 and get his first leg on the board.
Littler 0-0 Van Gerwen (legs 2-0) That really is a stinker of a first leg for MvG, the sort that could derail a less experienced player. (Remember Robert Thornton against Phil tTaylor in the 2013 Grand Slam final?)
The second leg isn’t great either but Littler is first to a double. He misses tops and – shock, horror – hits double 10 at the first attempt.
Littler breaks! Littler 0-0 Van Gerwen (legs 1-0) A very nerby first leg is stolen by Luke Littler against the throw.
Van Gerwen starts with 100, 115 and 81; Littler with 58, 134 and 89. That allows MvG to bang in a 180 and leave 45 after 12 darts.
Littler leaves 140 – and he gets a shot because MvG busts by hitting D16 rather than D8. He hits the first treble 20 but not the second. It doesn’t matter because Van Gerwen misses D8 and D4 on his next visit. Littler cleans up 55 for a 17-dart break.
“Michael to throw first… game on!”
The walk-ons
Littler isn’t smiling as much as usual; that could be nerves or laser focus. There are some boos when Van Gerwen first appears on the big screen but they don’t last long. MvG also has his business face on.
There’s a brief embrace between the players, no more than that. Unless there’s a nine-darter, don’t expect any congratulatory fistbumps tonight.
“I’m at a puzzle,” writes Andy O’Shaughnessy, “with only your blog to keep me up to date on the darts.”
Andy did attach a picture of a half completed puzzle, featuring an old-fashioned telephone and an army of adorable black labs, but there isn’t time to upload it. Mainly because the walk-ons are about to begin.
Van Gerwen wins the bull and will throw first
I think that’s quite important, though I reserve the right to delete this entire entry if Littler wins the first set. Littler made some slow starts early in the tournament, then he averaged 118.66 in the first set of the quarters and 105.92 in the first set last night.
Start time
As I said all along, it’ll be around 8.15pmish. I’m off to get a coffee and a cold flannel, after which it’ll be time to watch two geniuses assault treble 20.
“I suspect I’m pretty much alone in expecting a runaway winner tonight,” writes Gary Naylor. “Watching the excellent Robbie Williams biopic on Tuesday (bear with me now) reminded me of the power of Impostor Syndrome.
“Darts is a psychological battle and both players will have strong voices in their heads if they go a couple of sets down: ‘I’m not ready for this after all’; ‘I’m past it, have been for years’. Silencing the internal chimp when it starts whispering those thoughts will surely be the deciding factor.”
I don’t expect a runaway winner but it wouldn’t shock me if Littler averaged 108 and won 7-2 or 7-3. The bull could be really important in terms of psychological momentum. Littler can be a brutal frontrunner so MvG would love to throw first, take the first set without drama and see what happens.
It’s also worth noting that only one of the last eight finals has gone to 12 sets, never mind 13. These are the scores: 7-3, 7-2, 7-3, 7-3, 7-3, 7-5, 7-4, 7-4.
Finally, what is Imposter Syndrome? I have never heard of this concept and it certainly is not squatting in my subconscious.
This has been an excellent World Championship – not the best yet, but still a cracker. There has been one huge negative, though: the absence of Wayne Mardle, a man whose expertise, charisma, enthusiasm, generosity of spirit and facility with language enrich every single game on which he commentates.
Mardle has been absent from Sky’s coverage due to the tragic death of his wife Donna, aged just 52, on the eve of the tournament. We won’t hear his voice tonight, but let’s hope we have another ‘I can’t spake’ moment.
From the archive: sporting prodigies
There are some superb entries here, none better than Georgina Turner’s on Martina Hingis.
The best that most of us can hope for from the year we turn 16 is a decent set of exam results and a dinner out at TGI Fridays (milkshakes allowed). Hingis, meanwhile, competed in all four grand slam singles finals, winning three of them
The head-to-head record is Littler 6-6 Van Gerwen. MvG won the biggest game to date, scrapping to a 10-6 win in the first round of the Matchplay, but since then Littler has won their two games by a combined score of 17-5.
Today in Focus podcast
Ever since the then 16-year-old Luke Littler stormed to the final of the World Darts Championship last year, Britain has gone darts mad.
Tickets for this year’s tournament sold out in record time. Today in Focus presenter Helen Pidd and producer Tom Glasser were lucky enough to get two, and they went along to see what the fuss is all about.
Guardian sports writer and darts fan Jonathan Liew is Helen’s guide to the world of arrows, preparing her for the sights and sounds of Alexandra Palace in full swing – and the prospect of witnessing a perfect set of darts, a nine-dart finish, or “the closest thing you get to a biblical miracle in a sporting context”.
Darts has travelled far beyond the pub to become a worldwide sport, and Saudi Arabia is now vying to host a future competition. But will Helen fall in love with the game?
What tonight means for the world rankings
It’s pretty simple. If Littler wins, this will be the top three.
Luke Humphries
Luke Littler
Michael van Gerwen
And if Van Gerwen wins, this will be the top three.
Luke Humphries
Michael van Gerwen
Luke Littler
Rob Cross will stay fourth regardless of the result.
Read Jonathan Liew on semi-final night
Eric Bristow, Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, Michael van Gerwen: turns out this was the preamble. When the chroniclers of the future come to write the tale of this sport, they will recognise two eras: before Luke Littler, and after.
“So glad you are doing the honours here, sir,” says Ian Copestake. “I bet when you were 17 you were knocking out pretend commentaries on your ZX80! And now here we all are. Clearly the PDC trophy designer is also a cricket fan!”
I was 18, so bad luck. And it was a ZX81.
As the former BDO world champion Mark Webster pointed out on Sky Sports last night, this match are echoes of the 2013 final. Van Gerwen was the emerging sensation – he hit 17 perfect darts in the semi-final, still the most spine-tingling bit of darts I’ve ever seen – and Phil Taylor, 52, was the old don trying to delay the inevitable.
Taylor hadn’t won a world title in three years, the equivalent of a millennium for most players. Van Gerwen led 4-2, missed a dart for 5-2 and was made to pay. Taylor won the last five sets to take the match 7-4 and become world champion for the 16th and final time. It was, as Barney Ronay wrote in this paper, “all about Taylor reasserting his venerable qualities of era-domination in the face of the younger generation”.
Van Gerwen may not have dominated like Taylor, but he’s still been the best player of the era. And even at the age of 35, he’d love to reassert his venerable qualities.
Previously on … darts
You’re new round here aren’t you? It’s okay, we’re all darts fans now. All you need to do to confirm your bona fides is fill in the missing word in this popular chant: “boring boring ______”.
Hang on, the start time is 8pmish, not 8.15pmish! This is also the fault of AI and emphatically not a cock-up on my part. Blimey, we’re 45 minutes away.
Apple news summary says Littler is world champion
Not content with the thrilling progress of Project 2030, the year by which the entire human population will be wiped out, artificial intelligence is now starting to ruin what years we have left. Earlier today, as reported by the BBC, an Apple news summary – written by our old friend Artie Foucault – reported that Luke Littler was the new darts world champion.
Did I say 2030? Enjoy tonight’s final, let’s leave it at that.
Profile: Michael van Gerwen
Nickname: Mighty Mike/MvG World ranking: No 3 Home town: Vlijmen, Netherlands Major titles: 48 and counting PDC worlds best: Winner 2014, 2017 and 2019 Walk-on music: Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes)
A decade ago, Van Gerwen was in Luke Littler’s position; the heir apparent to Phil Taylor’s throne who seemed capable of lifting the world title year after year. The fact he has only won three Ally Pally crowns feels almost disappointing; Van Gerwen has occasionally misplaced his ruthless streak here, losing as many finals as he has won.
Van Gerwen is still only 35, though, and has time to reach a world title haul more fitting his incredible ability. Sometimes tripped up by his desire to totally dominate, the Dutchman has been more sanguine this year and may even enjoy the role of (slight) underdog in the final. If anyone can make tonight miserable for Littler, it is Van Gerwen at his merciless best.
Road to final R2 beat James Hurrell 3-0, R3 bt Brendan Dolan 4-2, R4 bt Jeffrey de Graaf 4-2, QF bt Callan Rydz 5-3, SF bt Chris Dobey 6-1.
Profile: Luke Littler
Nickname: The Nuke World ranking: No 4 Home town: Warrington Major titles: PL, World Series, Grand Slam 2024 PDC worlds best: Final 2024, 2025 Walk-on music: Greenlight (Pitbull)
At the start of last year’s tournament, Luke Littler was a name only known to darts aficionados who had picked up on his strong showings at floor events. His incredible run to last year’s world final made him famous far beyond the sport, but while other rising stars have wilted in the spotlight, Littler – still only 17 – has just kept climbing.
Back in the final 12 months later, with three major titles under his belt this year, it feels like a matter of time until Littler is the champion and world No 1. He is the favourite to lift the trophy tonight after hitting a relentless gear from the quarter-finals on; Van Gerwen may have to hope there is some scar tissue left from last year’s defeat to Luke Humphries.
Road to final R2 beat Ryan Meikle 3-1, R3 bt Ian White 4-1, R4 bt Ryan Joyce 4-3, QF bt Nathan Aspinall 5-2, SF bt Stephen Bunting 6-1.
Tournament stats
Three-dart average Littler 102.13 Van Gerwen 99.75
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the PDC World Championship final between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen. It’s a dream final between the two greatest 17-year-olds in darts history; what makes it even more tantalising is that one of them is now aged 35.
On 17 February 2007, when Van Gerwen reinforced his reputation as the next genius of darts by hitting a televised nine-darter against Raymond van Barneveld, Littler was 27 days old. Now he’s the phenomenon and Van Gerwen is fighting to stay young and relevant.
Littler is the big story – how can he not be – but this is probably a bigger game for Van Gerwen. When he won the worlds for the first time at the age of 24 (he lost his way for a few years after that initial impact), many felt he would threaten Phil Taylor’s record of 16 world championships. Instead he has been stuck on three titles since beating Michael Smith in 2019. It’s still more than anyone else in the same period, but it’s not the domination that was expected – and that is now assumed of Littler even before he has won his first.
Littler can’t be stopped, only delayed. After surviving a mid-match battering to win last year’s final, Luke Humphries acknowledged as much. “All day, in the back of my mind, I’ve been thinking, ‘Get this won now because he’s gonna dominate world darts soon!’”
Littler is odds-on favourite and leads in most of the big tournament statistics (average, 180s, highest checkout). Van Gerwen is slightly ahead on the doubles, though, and the outer ring is surely his route to victory. Yes, yes, of course it bloody is, he’s not going to finish every leg on the bull is he?
You know what I mean. If the timing of his finishing is as good as it was in the quarter-finals, when he resisted an extended, Littlerian barrage from Callan Rydz, he will probably become a four-time world champion. But if both men males play as they did in the semi-final last night, Littler could win handsomely.
Ach, I haven’t a clue. It should be brilliant, it could be epic, it might even be the greatest match of all time. As neutrals we are guaranteed one thing, something modern society values almost as highly as oxygen: narrative satisfaction. Either Luke Littler will become champion of the world at the age of 17 or Michael van Gerwen will end six confusing, sometimes miserable years without a world title. May the best genius win.
Format Best of 13 sets
Start time 8.15pmish
The Ally Pally calm before the storm. Photograph: Every Second Media/Shutterstock
The highly anticipated final of the PDC World Darts Championship is finally here, and it’s a showdown between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen.
Both players have had an incredible tournament so far, showcasing their skill, determination, and nerves of steel. Littler has been the surprise package of the tournament, defeating some of the biggest names in darts to reach the final. On the other hand, van Gerwen, a three-time world champion, is no stranger to the big stage and will be looking to add another title to his impressive resume.
As the final gets underway, the tension is palpable in the arena. The crowd is on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating every throw and every checkout. Both players are in top form, hitting big scores and crucial doubles with precision.
It’s a close match, with neither player willing to give an inch. The atmosphere is electric as Littler and van Gerwen trade blows, each determined to come out on top. The match goes down to the wire, with every leg crucial in determining the outcome.
In the end, it’s Littler who emerges victorious, defeating van Gerwen in a thrilling final to claim his first PDC World Darts Championship title. The crowd erupts in celebration as Littler is crowned the new world champion, a deserving winner after a phenomenal performance throughout the tournament.
Congratulations to Luke Littler on his historic victory, and commiserations to Michael van Gerwen for a valiant effort. The PDC World Darts Championship has once again delivered a spectacle for darts fans around the world, and we can’t wait to see what the next edition has in store.
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Littler vs van Gerwen: Who will win the championship?
But he still has to get past the more experienced Van Gerwen, who himself eased to a 6-1 semi-final victory over Chris Dobey last night, though the three-time champion has lost in his last two final appearances in 2020 and 2023.
Whatever happens, Ally Pally is set for a blockbuster final between two players who represent the present and future of the sport – so will Littler become the tournament’s youngest-ever winner, or will the Dutchman reclaim his crown and a top prize of £500,000?
Follow all of the action from Ally Pally in our live blog below:
World Darts Championship final LIVE
Warm-ups are out of the way, and we’re getting started at Ally Pally!
‘One Luke Littler’ chants are a lot more audible now.
Chris Wilson3 January 2025 20:22
Van Gerwen wins the walk-ons
Greenlight 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.
(Action Images via Reuters)
Luke Baker at Alexandra Palace3 January 2025 20:20
World Darts Championship final LIVE
Former champion John Part is the only panellist not to predict a Littler win. The 17-year-old is the first to walk out.
Chris Wilson3 January 2025 20:18
Littler the man in form against underdog Van Gerwen
Luke 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
Luke Baker at Alexandra Palace3 January 2025 20:16
Littler vs Van Gerwen head to head
The 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?
Chris Wilson3 January 2025 20:10
WATCH: Luke Littler’s route to the final
Something to get you in the mood – highlights of Littler’s route to the final.
Chris Wilson3 January 2025 20:07
Final odds
The Sky Sports countdown has 15 minutes left on it, for reference.
Littler is the 2/5 favourite coming into the final, with van Gerwen the outside bet at 2/1.
Chris Wilson3 January 2025 20:05
Game-time is approaching
The live coverage is will underway on Sky Sports, so we aren’t far away from everything kicking off at Alexandra Palace.
Chris Wilson3 January 2025 20:00
Atmosphere crackling ahead of eagerly-anticipated final
Good evening from among the tables on the floor of Alexandra Palace, where people are beginning to take their seats. I am surrounded by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marios and Luigis, Ali G, lots of fruit (mostly bananas), several Popes and an outstanding effort recreating the characters from The Hangover.
There are also lots of ‘The Nuke’ shirts and plenty of Dutch orange on show too. Amid the boozy excitement there is the very palpable sense here that this is going to be a momentous night – so much so that might it actually be worth remaining sober to remember it.
Though judging by the pitchers of beer being lugged to the tables, not everyone sees it that way…
Lawrence Ostlere at Alexandra Palace3 January 2025 19:55
World Darts Championship final LIVE
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Chris Wilson3 January 2025 19:51
The World Darts Championship final is finally here, and it’s set to be an epic showdown between two of the game’s biggest stars: Dave Littler and Michael van Gerwen. Both players have been in scintillating form throughout the tournament, and now they will go head-to-head in the ultimate battle for darts supremacy.
I’ll be providing live updates from the PDC blockbuster tonight, so make sure to keep checking back for all the latest action and drama as it unfolds. Who will come out on top and be crowned the 2021 World Darts Champion? Stay tuned to find out! #WorldDartsChampionship #LittlerVsVanGerwen #PDC #DartsFinal
Twelve matches, six wins each. Luke Littler vs Michael van Gerwen has become a box-office match over the last 12 months and the rivalry will reach its crescendo on Friday in the World Championship final.
Littler’s meteoric rise at the 2024 World Darts Championship, where he finished runner-up to Luke Humphries, has been backed up with the Premier League, World Series of Darts Finals and Grand Slam of Darts final titles.
Van Gerwen, meanwhile, did not win a televised tournament in 2024, which is the first time he has not won in a calendar year since 2011.
Friday’s final is by far the most important meeting between the pair, as Van Gerwen seeks a fourth world title and Littler a first.
So, how did we get here?
Luke Littler vs Michael van Gerwen: Head-to-head
Event:
Winner:
Scoreline:
Bahrain Darts Masters
Luke Littler
8-5
Dutch Masters
Michael van Gerwen
8-6
Premier League Berlin
Michael van Gerwen
6-5
Premier League Newcastle
Michael van Gerwen
6-5
Premier League Nottingham
Luke Littler
6-2
Premier League Belfast
Luke Littler
6-3
Premier League Manchester
Luke Littler
6-3
Premier League Birmingham
Michael van Gerwen
6-3
Premier League Leeds
Michael van Gerwen
6-1
World Matchplay
Michael van Gerwen
10-6
World Series Finals
Luke Littler
11-4
European Tour Championship
Luke Littler
6-1
Littler puts down a marker but MVG responds
Two weeks after last year’s World Darts Championship, Littler made a nine-darter in his quarter-final win against Nathan Aspinall at the Bahrain Darts Masters and met Van Gerwen in the final on January 19.
It was the first of many meetings between two of darts’ most talented players and Littler came out on top 8-5 to lift his first senior PDC title on his World Series debut.
Van Gerwen vowed to be better for the next time the pair met; that he would “get” Littler. He did exactly that just a week later on home soil at the Dutch Darts Masters.
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Michael Bridge looks back at Luke Littler’s stunning route to success at the Bahrain Masters, which saw the 16-year-old beat some of the biggest names in darts as well as producing a nine-darter
A thrilling final saw both players going toe-to-toe and there was nothing to separate them until the very last leg when Van Gerwen punished a missed 170 from Littler to win 8-6.
“Luke put me under so much pressure,” said Van Gerwen, who won his 16th World Series of Darts crown.
“Luke has a very bright future ahead of him. We all know that, but you still want to stop him, and you have to do the right things against him, which is what I did tonight.
“His scoring power is immense so you have to keep on fighting, but I am glad that I was able to.”
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Michael van Gerwen edged Luke Littler 6-5 in a dramatic last-leg decider on night two of Premier League Darts
Big Premier League clashes
The format of the Premier League Darts means the world’s best eight players meet every Thursday over 17 weeks, so naturally we would see plenty of Van Gerwen vs Littler.
On Night 2 in early February, Littler missed two match darts in the Berlin final and Van Gerwen punished him to win 6-5 and let out a huge roar when he won, underlining how much it meant for the Dutchman to beat the teenager.
Two weeks later in Newcastle, Van Gerwen snatched victory again from Littler in a deciding leg, this time in the semi-finals, and he went on to win the night.
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Luke Littler missed a fist-bump from Michael van Gerwen to leave him awkwardly hanging during their Premier League semi-final in Newcastle in February. Their rivalry will be reunited at the the World Matchplay!
However, the next three matches went Littler’s way. On Night 7 in Nottingham, Littler averaged a sensational 114 with a stunning 6-2 quarter-final victory over Van Gerwen. That was the match where Van Gerwen “finished off” Littler’s nine-darter attempt.
Littler took full advantage of a below-par Van Gerwen with two 6-3 wins over the coming weeks, but the Dutchman won Night 11’s final with a 6-3 win of his own.
The last Premier League meeting was won by Van Gerwen 6-1, but Littler ultimately won the whole thing as MVG lost in the semi-finals to Humphries.
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The Shepmates are back with another hilarious commentary, this time on Luke Littler’s nine darter in the Premier League
Van Gerwen stuns Littler at World Matchplay
Van Gerwen and Littler drew each other in the first round of the World Matchplay and it was, surprisingly, a one-sided contest.
The three-time world champion knocked Littler out 6-1 but lost to Humphries in the final.
Littler got the better of Van Gerwen in the World Series of Darts semi-finals and at the European Tour, so he has the better recent form.
Looking at the bigger moments though, Van Gerwen has an edge and that could be important on Friday.
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The best action from the final batch of matches of round one at the World Matchplay Darts from Winter Gardens, Blackpool
What do Van Gerwen and Littler think of each other?
Michael van Gerwen:
“I think he’s great. What he’s done for the sport is great. Fair play to him.
“Television and social media is big which helps him. It’s good for darts in general. I don’t mind.”
Luke Littler:
“As I got older, I watched darts more and more. The first one [Van Gerwen match] I remember was the 2017 final when he beat Gary [Anderson].
“He’s been around for years and years and I’m sure he won’t change for anyone.”
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Luke Littler explains how he is dealing with fame, what he does to cope with the hectic schedule and gives his thoughts on Manchester United
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Image: Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen will meet in the World final on Friday night at Alexandra Palace
Luke Littler is one win away from creating history after reaching his second successive world championship final. The 17-year-old from Warrington will take on Michael van Gerwen, who is chasing his fourth World title after bulldozing his way to the final. Watch the drama unfold from 7.30pm this Friday on Sky Sports Darts.
Watch the Premier League Darts on Sky Sports
Image: Littler celebrates with the Premier League Darts trophy
Watch all the action from the Premier League on Sky Sports withLuke Littler aiming to defend his title. The new Premier League season will begin in Belfast on Thursday, February 6, as darts’ biggest party returns to an unchanged line-up of 17 venues across the UK and Europe.
The highly anticipated World Darts Championship final between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen ended in a thrilling showdown that saw their rivalry reach its peak.
Both players had been dominant throughout the tournament, with Littler showcasing his precision and consistency on the board, while van Gerwen displayed his trademark power scoring and deadly finishing.
The final match lived up to the hype, with both players trading blows and producing some incredible moments of darting brilliance. Littler took an early lead, but van Gerwen fought back to level the score, setting the stage for a tense and dramatic finish.
In the end, it was Littler who emerged victorious, clinching the title with a stunning display of skill and composure. The win marked a significant milestone in his career, solidifying his status as one of the top players in the world.
The rivalry between Littler and van Gerwen has been one of the most compelling storylines in darts in recent years, and their clash in the World Darts Championship final only added fuel to the fire. Fans can’t wait to see what the future holds for these two talented players as they continue to push each other to new heights on the oche.
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Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, World Darts Championship, darts rivalry, darts final, darts news, professional darts players, World Darts Championship final, darts tournament, darts showdown, darts competition, sports rivalry, professional athletes, sports news, sports championship
Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen will go head-to-head in a mouth-watering Paddy Power World Darts Championship final on Friday, after producing imperious semi-final displays at Alexandra Palace.
Littler booked his place in a second consecutive World Championship final with a sensational 6-1 success against Stephen Bunting, averaging over 105 to maintain his quest for glory.
Van Gerwen defeated Chris Dobey by the same scoreline in the opening semi-final, and now the two darting titans will renew their rivalry for the sport’s biggest prize on Friday evening.
However, Littler stole Thursday’s headlines with a magical display against Masters champion Bunting, as he moved a game away from darting immortality in the capital.
“I have gained loads of experience over the last year,” claimed Littler, who boasts a tournament average of 102 across his five matches.
“Michael has been in numerous finals; this is only my second, but I know where I went wrong last year, and I’m sure I will fix it.
“It would mean everything to lift this title, but my only focus right now is winning seven sets tomorrow night.”
Bunting averaged over a ton in a contest littered with quality, although he had no answer for Littler’s relentless brilliance, as the 17-year-old raced into a commanding four-set buffer.
St Helens star Bunting opened his account with a battling rearguard in set five, although any hopes of a famous fightback were quashed when Littler landed a brilliant 84 on the bull to lead 5-1 in sets.
The Warrington wonderkid produced more magic in the closing stages, landing a majestic 170 checkout in the penultimate leg to wrap up another inspired display.
“I felt very confident tonight. The best I felt was against Nathan in the quarter-finals, but I’m just glad I’m playing with such belief,” Littler continued.
“I’m hitting the right shots when I need to. Stephen was right behind me throughout the game, so I couldn’t afford to step off the gas.”
Van Gerwen, meanwhile, stormed into his seventh World Championship semi-final with a 6-1 demolition of Dobey in the evening’s opener.
The Dutch superstar averaged almost 99, landed eight 180s and produced a trio of ton-plus checkouts to cap off a dominant display and maintain his remarkable record at Alexandra Palace.
“I have only got to the final and the final means nothing. I want to win and that’s the only thing that counts for me,” declared the three-time World Champion.
“For me the total package has to be right, and the train is still moving that way which is a good thing.
“My experience could be really important, but I haven’t won anything yet. We are still far away!”
Following a rip-roaring start from Van Gerwen, Dobey squandered three darts to level proceedings in a dramatic climax to set two, although he responded with a brilliant clean sweep in the third.
The Bedlington star landed a magical 170 checkout during this spell, but Van Gerwen was unflappable, winning 12 of the next 16 legs to book his place in Friday’s final.
“I think I did the right things in the most important moments,” reflected Van Gerwen, who is bidding to lift the iconic Sid Waddell Trophy for the first time in six years.
“Whether it was finishing or scoring in the right moments, that’s where I put Chris under pressure and that helped me win this game today.”
Phil Taylor is the only player to have won more World Darts Championship titles than Van Gerwen, who is hoping to add to his victories in 2013/14, 2016/17 and 2018/19 on Friday evening.
Meanwhile, having succumbed to Luke Humphries in last year’s showpiece, Littler is bidding to create further history by becoming the sport’s youngest ever World Champion.
The tournament is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC’s worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers).
2024/25 Paddy Power World Darts Championship Thursday January 2 Semi-Finals Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Chris Dobey (3-1, 3-2, 0-3, 3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 3-1) Luke Littler 6-1 Stephen Bunting (3-2, 3-1, 3-2, 3-1, 1-3, 3-2, 3-1)
Friday January 3 Final (1930 GMT) Luke Littler v Michael van Gerwen Best of 13 sets
In a thrilling turn of events, Michael van Gerwen and Joe Littler have set up a blockbuster World Championship final that promises to be a showdown for the ages. Both players have been in top form throughout the tournament, with van Gerwen showing his trademark precision and Littler displaying an impressive mix of skill and determination.
Fans can expect a high-octane clash between two of the best players in the world, with both men vying for the prestigious title of World Champion. With so much on the line, this final is sure to be a nail-biter from start to finish.
Make sure to tune in and witness history in the making as Littler and van Gerwen go head-to-head in what promises to be a match for the ages. Who will come out on top and claim the ultimate prize? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain – this final is not to be missed.
‘Cool, calm and collected’published at 19:40 Greenwich Mean Time
19:40 GMT
Littler v Van Gerwen
Despite his relatively tender years, Luke Littler has managed to keep his composure amidst the hype.
“It’s like water off a duck’s back really, the way he just sort of takes it all in his stride,” sports psychologist and former women’s world number one darts player Dr Linda Duffy told BBC Sport.
“It’s almost like he’s not really 100% sure of what’s going on around him. It’s like if he’s in that sort of bubble where he’s just thinking about what he needs to do, which is fantastic.
“He’s certainly very cool, calm and collected under pressure.
“What a lot of people who don’t play darts don’t understand is how difficult it is to play. You’ve got all this adrenaline, all the emotions whirling round inside you and you have to stay as steady as a rock to throw that dart properly at the target.”
Image source, EPA
The highly anticipated World Darts Championship Final 2025 is finally here! In a thrilling match-up, Luke Littler will take on the legendary Michael van Gerwen for the prestigious title.
The final is set to begin at 7:00 PM GMT at the iconic Alexandra Palace in London. Fans from around the world are eagerly awaiting to see who will emerge victorious in this epic showdown.
Stay tuned as we provide live updates on the scores and highlights of the match between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen. Who will be crowned the champion of the World Darts Championship 2025? Don’t miss a second of the action!
