Luke Littler produced a sensational display to defeat Michael van Gerwen 7-3 and clinch the 2024/25 Paddy Power World Darts Championship title at London’s Alexandra Palace on Friday.
The teenage trailblazer fulfilled his darting destiny in a generational clash in the capital, averaging 102 and pinning 56% of his attempts at double to write his name into the history-books.
Littler was beaten by Luke Humphries in a record-breaking final a year ago to the day, and having vowed to bounce back, he backed up those claims with a virtuoso performance.
The 17-year-old punished some early frailties from Van Gerwen to storm into a 4-0 lead, and while the Dutch superstar battled back bravely, he was unable to seriously threaten a famous fightback.
Littler now succeeds Van Gerwen in becoming the youngest ever World Darts Champion, after the Dutchman had lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy for the first time at the age of 24.
“Since the winning double went in, I just can’t believe it,” admitted Littler, the 13th player to win the World Darts Championship and continues: “I can tell myself I’ve won it and that trophy is mine, but it’s not sunk in yet. Tonight I didn’t feel any nerves apart from the last leg when I started shaking. I said to myself: ‘You’ve not been shaking all game, so don’t do it now!”
There was nothing to separate Littler and Van Gerwen in terms of their head-to-head record going into Friday’s showpiece, and Littler paid tribute to the Dutch icon following his groundbreaking win.
“We all know what Michael has done for the sport,” says Littler, who now climbs above Van Gerwen and becomes the new world number two.
Van Gerwen was unable to cap off a superb campaign by reclaiming the sport’s biggest prize, six years on from his last victory at Alexandra Palace.
The three-time World Champion shared the spoils with Littler in the last six sets, although he was full of praise for the newly crowned World Champion post-match.
“I sometimes say every 17 years a star is born, and Luke is one of them,” claimed a gracious Van Gerwen and adds: “ Of course it hurts and that’s how it should be, because if it doesn’t hurt then you’re not going to be a sportsman. At the beginning of the game I was letting myself down too much. When you do that against a player of Luke’s ability then you’re going to be in trouble, and that’s how it was.“
The World Championship title is Littler’s eleventh title in his first PDC season. It makes him the new number 2 in the world behind Luke Humphries, with Michael van Gerwen following in third place.
The Paddy Power World Championship marks the end of the 2024 season, but 2025 is already casting its shadow. The stars of the World Championship will also compete against each other on the European Tour and prove their skills. Tickets are available here.
