Darts
Luke Littler has become the youngest world champion with a 7-3 victory over Michael van Gerwen; 17-year-old snatches record from ‘Mighty Mike’, who was the youngest, aged 24; Littler raced into a 4-0 lead against Van Gerwen before the Dutchman could hit back in the contest
Digital Sports Journalist @MegWellensX
Friday 3 January 2025 22:52, UK
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Luke Littler has become the youngest winner of the World Darts Championship with a 7-3 thrashing of Michael van Gerwen in the final at Alexandra Palace.
The 17-year-old has been on a meteoric rise since his sensational run at the Worlds last year and has capped off picking up 10 titles in his maiden year on the professional circuit by claiming the biggest prize of all at the second time of asking.
With his historic win, Littler has smashed the record for the youngest winner, which was previously held by his opponent Van Gerwen when he won the Worlds back in 2014 against Peter Wright aged 24.
Van Gerwen’s wait for a first Sid Waddell Trophy since 2019 continues as he lost his fourth final, the ‘Green Machine’ unable to keep up with Littler’s clinical 56 per cent on the doubles and sensational finishing.
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As the winning dart at D16 went in, Littler let out a roar and the tears started to flow as he realised he had achieved his destiny.
The night also saw Littler lift the Ballon D’Art for hitting the most 180s during the tournament plus the £500,000 prize for his epic victory.
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“I can’t believe it! Honestly, I can’t believe it,” Littler told Sky Sports as the victory sunk in.
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“We both played so well. I said in my interviews, I needed to get off to a quick start and that’s what I did.
“Michael was behind me the whole game. Those cover shots, when he would hit two trebles and I had to come back with two or three, he was right behind me the whole way through.
“Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy but you have to get through a tough field.”
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Littler had the Ally Pally crowd firmly on his side and, with their support, got off to a blistering start, winning six out of the first seven legs and the second set with a mind-blowing 115.62 average to race into a 2-0 lead.
Van Gerwen’s doubling was letting him down, pinning just 18 per cent after three sets, and Littler was allowed to capitalise once again against the throw, securing an ominous 3-0 lead in double-quick time.
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The 17-year-old was so comfortable on the stage that he took out 70 via the bullseye and D10, romping to a four-set advantage with 12 legs won compared to just three for Van Gerwen.
Anytime the ‘Green Machine’ thought he had a chance it was snatched away by Littler but finally in the fifth set he had his moment, hitting back at a 130 checkout from the wonderkid with a 132 on the bullseye to clinch the set and bring the scoreline to 4-1.
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After the Dutchman got a set on the board, Littler quickly restored his lead to four sets, but even a 124 checkout on the bullseye from Littler could not stop Van Gerwen from battling hard to put the contest at 5-2.
That saw Littler come back with a vengeance and whitewash the eighth set to put himself a set away from glory but, of course, a player of Van Gerwen’s calibre hit back once again and broke the throw to put the score at 6-3.
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With pressure high and the Ally Pally crowd at fever pitch, Littler stayed cool as the biggest moment of his career arrived and after picking up the first two legs of the 10th set to put himself one away from being on top of the world, he took out two bullseyes and then, on his next visit, D16 to reach the top of the mountain.
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After the final, Van Gerwen was quick to congratulate Littler as the “star” he is.
However, the three-time world champion said he did not do himself justice in the contest or play to the level he did in the rest of the tournament.
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“I was 4-0 behind and after that I didn’t do myself justice but that’s the way it is,” Van Gerwen told Sky Sports.
“You need to try and fight and battle back but after coming back from 4-0 down I was definitely not the worst player out of us but fair play to him.
“Every moment he got to hurt me, he did.
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“I sometimes say every 17 years a star gets born and he’s one of them.
“Don’t get me wrong, I had a lovely tournament. I’ve been battling my own game but that’s how it was. You have to take it on the chin and take it as a champion.”
He adds: “It hurts but that’s how it should be. It is what it is.”
Watch all the action from the Premier League on Sky Sports with Luke 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.
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