Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the World Darts Championship Final happening at Alexandra Palace tonight.
Luke Littler has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the fourth man to reach three consecutive finals, securing back-to-back world titles after defeating Gian van Veen 7-1. This victory not only earned Littler £1 million in prize money but also awarded him the prestigious Sid Waddell Trophy.
Following his win, the 18-year-old has claimed the top spot in the world rankings, while the runner-up, Van Veen, has moved up to number three globally and is now the highest-ranked player in the Netherlands.
In the semi-finals, ‘The Nuke’ triumphed over Ryan Searle with a score of 6-1, while Gian van Veen, in his first World Championship Final and second major final, defeated Gary Anderson in a thrilling 6-3 match.
Despite Van Veen’s pre-match advantage, Littler dominated the final, winning seven consecutive sets with an average of 106.02. He showcased exceptional performance by hitting 16 180s, 19 140s, and maintaining a 46% success rate on doubles.
The intense three-week darts tournament concluded with Luke Littler successfully defending his World Darts Championship Crown. Stay tuned for more darting action as the Premier League Darts is set to begin next month.
With his two PDC world titles, Luke Littler trails only Phil Taylor (14) and Michael van Gerwen (three) in terms of championship wins. Despite his remarkable success, darts pundit Wayne Mardle has issued a cautionary message, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the sport.
In a gracious manner, Gian van Veen acknowledged his defeat, commending Littler’s exceptional performance. Van Veen expressed pride in reaching the final and praised Littler for his outstanding gameplay, acknowledging the gap in their skill levels.
Additionally, Luke Littler clinched the Ballon d’Art for recording the most 180s (73) in the tournament, with Gary Anderson securing the second position with 59. The tournament witnessed a total of 1127 180s, resulting in a donation of £1.1 million to Prostate Cancer UK by the tournament sponsors.
In a post-match interview, Luke Littler expressed his gratitude and determination to continue his winning streak, highlighting the support from his family and friends. Littler paid tribute to the late friends of Anthony Joshua before humorously quoting the former world champion’s famous phrase.
By securing back-to-back world titles, Luke Littler has solidified his position as the top-ranked player globally. Witness the moment of his victory as he was crowned the winner of the World Darts Championship for the second consecutive year.
The remarkable feat of Luke Littler winning back-to-back World Championships after defeating Gian van Veen at Alexandra Palace has etched his name in darts history. Littler’s dominance throughout the competition was evident in his 7-1 victory over Van Veen.
Luke Littler’s achievement of being the first player to claim the £1 million prize at the tournament underscores his exceptional performance and sets a new benchmark in darts history. The increased prize pool of £5 million, with a substantial £500,000 awarded to the winner, further highlights the significance of Littler’s win.
In a thrilling final showdown, Luke Littler secured his victory as the World Darts Champion for the second consecutive year, demonstrating his unparalleled skill and dominance in the sport.