LITTLER BID TO BE YOUNGSTER-EVER WORLD CHAMP

LUKE LITTLER admits “it would mean everything” to lift his first World Championship title. 

The teen sensation faces Michael van Gerwen in a fascinating final at the Ally Pally tonight. 

The Nuke, 17, 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 of £500,000.

Littler stole the semi-final headlines with a magical display against Masters champion Bunting, as he moved a game away from darting immortality in the capital.

*Luke Littler is 7-1 with Star Sports to hit five PDC nine-dart legs in 2025, get on it here

He said: “I have gained loads of experience over the last year.

“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.

Littler added: “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.

“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.

He said: “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.

“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!

“I think I did the right things in the most important moments.

“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.

Images by Taylor Lanning.