Teenage prodigy Luke Littler made history on Friday, becoming the youngest-ever darts world champion at just 17 years old. In a commanding performance, Littler defeated three-time champion Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final of the PDC World Darts Championship at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace.
Littler, who entered the tournament as the odds-on favorite following his surprise run to last year’s final, delivered on expectations in front of a raucous crowd. As per the sources of Leaders team, fans serenaded him with chants of “Walking in a Littler Wonderland,” but the pressure only seemed to fuel his remarkable play.
Building an early 4-0 lead, Littler dominated the 35-year-old Dutchman, who held the previous record as the youngest darts world champion at age 24. Despite Van Gerwen’s brief resurgence to win three sets, he never truly posed a threat to Littler’s historic win.
A Phenomenal Performance
Littler’s average score of 102.73 narrowly outpaced Van Gerwen’s 100.69, and he hit 12 maximum 180s compared to his opponent’s 13. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Littler struggled to contain his disbelief:
“I can’t believe it, honestly. We both played so well. I said in interviews I needed to start quickly tonight, and that’s exactly what I did. Everyone dreams of winning this trophy, but the path to even qualify is so tough. I still can’t believe it.”
A New Star of the Sport
Since his meteoric rise last year, Littler has become a household name in the UK, capturing hearts with his humility and candidness in interviews. His historic win even drew praise from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called it “an inspirational performance under immense pressure.”
According to the reports of Leaders team, Littler’s success has sparked a surge in darts’ popularity, but the teenager remained modest when asked if he now considers himself the best player in the world.
“I won’t say I’m the best. Maybe statistically, I might be, but I’ll never say it,” Littler told reporters after the match.
Praise from a Legend
Van Gerwen, himself a darts legend, had nothing but admiration for Littler, calling him a “generational talent.”
“Every chance he got to hurt me, he did,” Van Gerwen told Sky Sports. “I sometimes say, ‘Every 17 years, a star is born,’ and he’s one of them.”
With his youthful energy and exceptional talent, Luke Littler is poised to take darts to new heights, solidifying his place as the sport’s brightest star.
