World Darts Championship final updates: Luke Littler demolishes Michael van Gerwen to win first world title
The 17-year-old Littler brilliantly beat Van Gerwen 7-3 with an average of almost 103 as he went one better than 12 months ago
Luke Littler became the youngest ever world champion of darts with a brilliant display in the final at Alexandra Palace, blowing away three-time winner Michael van Gerwen to win 7-3.
Littler, 17, was beaten by world No 1 Luke Humphries in last year’s final, but he returned to the same stage 12 months later and made no mistake this time, overwhelming his esteemed opponent with peerless finishing to race into a 4-0 lead.
Van Gerwen appeared nervous in the opening forays and struggled to settle, competing gamely with his three-dart scoring but missing an array of doubles to give up winning positions. The Dutchman battled back in the latter stages but it was too little, too late, as the teenage superstar from Warrington cemented his name among the greats of the sport – and began what many believe will be a new era of dominance.
Follow all the reaction from Luke Littler’s victory at the World Darts Championship below.
Littler 4-0 van Gerwen - Littler wins the fourth set!
A few grimaces from van Gerwen as he goes astray with his first throws, but he lands 180 to claw back some ground. He needs 70 to break – but he lands wide of double 16!
He gets away with it though, as Littler misses the same spot twice, and the Dutchman is finally on the board in this set.
Another 180 for van Gerwen in the next leg, and he has control of this one. 128 to check out, but he misses it.
170 for Littler to do it – he lands the two trebles, but not the bull!
And more drama as van Gerwen goes bust! Littler makes no mistake once more, landing five and his favourite double 10 for 4-0.
This is only going one way at the moment...
Littler vs van Gerwen - 3-0 (2-0)
Van Gerwen needs 124 to checkout but all three of his throws go wide. He looks perplexed, and then Littler punishes him to hold with another double 10.
The youngster lands a 180 on his next visit to the Oche, and he needs 88 – he finds it, finishing on double seven! His second four-visit leg of the match.
Littler 3-0 van Gerwen - Littler wins third set!
Littler drags it wide of double 10 to let the Dutchman off, but he can’t check out on 91 and Littler lands it at the second time of asking to break the throw! He was centimetres off losing 2-1 there!
The next leg starts with maximum for van Gerwen, while Littler leaves 170 for his third visit – and the crowd almost goes wild as he lands two treble 20s before finding 25.
No problem for Littler as he finds five and double 10 to take the third set too.
Littler vs van Gerwen - 2-0 (1-1)
A couple of throws go awry for both early on, with MVG whittling down 122 to 24 before landing D12 to take the first leg.
In the second, Littler leaves himself needing 170, with the Dutchman needing 40, but he can’t land the second T20.
However, Littler gets a second chance as van Gerwen throws over tops!
And Littler takes the leg as he lands the double five.
Littler in control after first two sets
That was utterly ruthless by Littler, hitting his favourite double 10 twice to sweep his way to the second set. The opening set was nervy and he averaged only 93.28, but his match average is over 100 after that flurry of big scores. There’s a long, long way to go, but Van Gerwen really needs a response here to avoid being totally blown away...
Littler vs van Gerwen - Littler wins second set
The third set will be underway soon. Are we beginning to see how this will pan out, or will van Gerwen fight back in this one?
Littler vs van Gerwen - Littler wins second set
Unlucky from van Gerwen as he misses bull and takes 25, and Littler finds double 10 once again to take the second set.
Littler vs van Gerwen - 1-0 (2-0)
Littler throwing first in the second set, so can he consolidate his early advantage?
It’s van Gerwen with the first 180 of the leg, but Littler immediately responds with his own maximum, before narrowly missing the bull for a 12-dart leg. He’s not fussed though, as he checks out with the double 10.
Another 180 from Littler to give himself the chance to break, and after MVG misses tops, Littler needs it for 2-0...and he nails it!
Littler vs van Gerwen - Littler wins the first set!
We have another 180 from MVG to open the deciding leg, but this is “B-game stuff” at the moment.
Littler whittles it down to 80, lands the treble 20 and double 10, and he takes the first set!
Luke Littler settles more quickly to make early statement
A horror first leg for Van Gerwen as he missed three darts at a double, including busting his score, and Littler made him pay by nailing double tops at the first attempt to break the throw. Not how the Dutchman wanted to begin his seventh world final.
After a Littler hold followed, MvG at least got a leg on the board and a 180 in leg four looked to be putting the pressure on the Englishman. But the teenager hit back to win the opening set 3-1. Statement made and a fist pump to the crowd.
The fans were a little quieter than normal throughout that first set as they were so engrossed in the action but I’m sure they’ll liven up as this final progresses.
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