Luke Littler vs Luke Humphries LIVE: Teenage sensation slips to defeat in World Darts Championship final

Here we go.

Coverage for the World Darts Championship final is just starting on Sky Sports Darts. The players will be making their walks to the stage shortly.

Luke Humphries, the new world number one, will be the favourite with the bookmakers but the supporters at the Ally Pally will all be behind teenager Luke Littler.

If both players perform to their best ability this match is too close to call. Will experience triumph over youth? Can Littler secure a fairytale ending and win the world title?

We’re about to find out.

The teenager has said that remaining himself will be key if he is to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy this evening.

Littler hit 16 maximums in his semi-final win over Rob Cross and has surpassed his own expectations at Ally Pally, but insists he won’t let the pressure get to him tonight.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” the 16-year-old said after securing victory against Cross. “I’ve thrown big averages on the floor all year round, but I’m so happy to have brought that form up on to the biggest stage of them all.

“It would be unbelievable to win this title. I set myself the target to win one game and be back after Christmas, and I’m still here!

“I can’t even imagine lifting that trophy yet though. I’ve just got to stay focused, relax and be Luke Littler.”

Luke Humphries was in superb touch in his semi-final win over Scott Williams, averaging 108.76 to whitewash his opponent. Only three men have averaged more in a World Championship quarter-final, semi-final or final encounter: Phil Taylor (twice), Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld. Handy company.

“This is a massive, massive moment for me,” Humphries said after his victory. “I think it’s probably one of the best performances I’ve ever produced on the big stage. I just hope it didn’t come one game too early.

“I needed to put in a statement performance because Luke was fantastic. Every aspect of my game was as I wanted it to be, and it’s such a special moment.

“Becoming world number one is something you can only dream of as a kid, but tomorrow would stay with me forever if I become World Champion, so my mind is fully focused on that.”

While tonight will mark the coronation of a new darts star with both men chasing a first World Championship crown, it will also be an occasion to bid farewell, with referee Russ Bray overseeing his last final after nearly 30 years as one of the most familiar voices in sport.

The world is talking about Luke Littler, the 16-year-old darts prodigy who has smashed his way to final of the the World Darts Championship. But there is still one man standing his way, one last boss to defeat: the new world No 1, Luke Humphries.

Humphries was among the favourites coming into the tournament after a stellar year which included three titles – the World Grand Prix, the Players Championship Finals and the Grand Slam of Darts – along with a big rise up the rankings, and it is his run to this final that will ensure he jumps to the top after the tournament, whatever the outcome.

Nicknamed ‘Cool Hand Luke’ – a riff on the 1967 prison-drama film of the same name – Humphries is a calm, understated figure, which has led to accusations from some quarters that he lacks the domineering personality to take over the darts world.

Luke Littler will aim to move a step closer to World Darts Championship glory on Tuesday night and his path became clearer after tournament favourite Michael van Gerwen crashed out.

The 16-year-old has taken Alexandra Palace by storm and became the youngest semi-finalist ever after he beat Brendan Dolan 5-1 in the quarter-final.

A semi-final against 2018 winner Rob Cross is next up, but he will no longer have to meet Van Gerwen in the final after the three-time champion suffered one of the biggest shocks in recent times, going out 5-3 to unseeded Scott Williams.

It was a new year, but the same old brilliance from the precocious Littler, who is on the cusp of producing one of the greatest sporting stories of all time.

Luke Humphries has the backing of Leeds United tonight with the 28-year-old named after the Elland Road club.

“I think everyone knows I am named after the club, that’s no secret,” Humphries explained to the Championship side’s website. “My dad named me Luke, which stands for [L]eeds [U]nited [K]ings of [E]urope. I am not from Leeds, but the club really was in me from birth.

“It was great in the early years of my life, then we had a patch of hard times, but I really feel we’re now on the up as a club again despite what happened last year.

“Our fans are the best in the world, there is no doubt at all about that. The support and commitment they show is something I think that holds everyone together, and sets us apart from everyone else. Following the club has been a massive part of my life and will continue to be.”

Luke Littler swept into the world darts final with the support of his beloved Warrington Wolves ringing in his ears.

Super League stars Josh Thewlis and Matty Ashton – as well as the club’s mascot ‘Wolfie’ – were present at Ally Pally to cheer the 16-year-old through his emphatic semi-final win over Rob Cross.

The duo, who presented Littler with a Wolves shirt emblazoned with ‘Littler 180’ on the back, were forced to zip straight back up the M6 for the start of post-season training on Wednesday.

But they marvelled at Littler’s composure on the oche, with Thewlis telling the PA news agency: “It must be pretty daunting for a 16-year-old to be up there on the big stage on his own.”

Luke Littler arrived at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday afternoon (3 January) ahead of the World Darts Championship final.

The 16-year-old sporting sensation takes on Luke Humphries in the showpiece event, after beating 2018 champion Rob Cross in his semi.

Littler has surpassed Kirk Shepherd, who was 21 years and 88 days old when he reached this stage in 2008, as the youngest finalist in tournament history.