World Darts Championship final updates: Luke Littler demolishes Michael van Gerwen to win first world title

Whether he beat or lost to Michael van Gerwen on the Alexandra Palace stage on Friday night, Luke Littler was always going to leave his second World Darts Championship as a winner. After all, he is the catalyst for and the face of the ongoing darts boom – all as a 17-year-old.

As it happened, Littler rubber-stamped his status as a generational talent and completed his coronation as king of the Palace by taking his first world title in ruthlessly impressive fashion.

From a break of throw in the opening leg of the match, to a 11-darter when he smelt weakness in the second set, to a 4-0 lead that turned into a crushing 7-3 triumph thanks to a 102.73 average and a superb 56 per cent success rate on the doubles, Littler dismantled the three-time world champion.

It was brutal, it was exhilarating to watch and raised questions about just how high the ceiling is for this unstoppable darting teenager.

“I know where I went wrong last year, I’m sure I’ll fix it,” Littler had matter-of-factly stated ahead of the final. And, boy, did he.

Darts has a new world champion, and he’s a 17-year-old boy from Warrington. Luke Littler first picked up a set of magnetic darts bought by his dad from a pound shop while he was still in nappies, and was throwing 180s before most children could count that high. The journey from freakishly talented toddler to champion of the world ended on stage at Alexandra Palace as he took down the sport’s modern alpha specimen, Michael van Gerwen, with a ruthless display of finishing, toying with him, bullying him, racing into a 4-0 lead and eventually winning 7-3.

Littler almost won his first world title in fittingly outrageous style, hitting bullseye twice on a pinprick but missing double 16 for the trophy. A moment later he returned to the oche for another shot with three darts in his hand, took a deep breath and muttered “come on” to himself. The crowd rose, camera phones hoisted over their heads like an offering to their new god. Littler hit double 16 at the second attempt, dropped his head into his hands and let the tears flow.

Luke Littler’s performance was described as “mesmerising” and “inspirational” by Sir Keir Starmer as the Prime Minister congratulated the 17-year-old for his historic World Championship triumph.

Sir Keir said in a statement: “Mesmerising performance from Luke Littler to win the World Darts Championship.

“Congratulations Luke on being the youngest ever PDC World Darts Champion. An inspirational performance under such pressure to lift the trophy.

“You should be really proud of what you’ve achieved tonight, not just for yourself but for the sport of darts as a whole.”

Luke Littler received a ‘well done’ message from David Beckham after he was crowned the darts world champion at Alexandra Palace.

Littler says ‘it feels crazy’ to have the likes of David Beckham watching his sporting journey.

The 17-year-old became the youngest ever world champion of darts with a brilliant display in the final, blowing away three-time winner Michael van Gerwen to win 7-3.

Sir Keir Starmer also congratulated the 17-year-old for his historic World Championship triumph and described his performance as “mesmerising” and “inspirational”.

“Fair play to him, every chance he got, every moment he had to hurt me, he did it. I sometimes say that every 17 years a star gets born, and he is one of them.

“He did well and he deserves it. Of course it hurts, but that’s how it should be. If it doesn’t hurt, you’re not going to be a sportsman.

“It is what it is at the moment and I have to move on, I have to make sure I keep playing better. I’m an old b****** compared to him! I have to take this on the chin. I wasn’t sharp enough at the beginning of the game.”

“I started off 18 months in a nappy on a magnetic board. But to keep at it. Obviously, when I’d say to my mates, I’ve got a darts competitions.

“They would say ‘Darts?’ Have you not seen it?. But I’ve come a long way. Me and my family have come a long way.

“There probably will be a big purchase when I get my head around the amount of money I’ve won, but I have said it in other interviews, I don’t like to talk about the money, but it is there.”

Luke Littler’s charge to his first World Championship title was inspired by watching a re-run of last year’s final defeat to Luke Humphries.

Littler became the youngest world champion ever when he demolished Michael van Gerwen in a one-sided final at Alexandra Palace to avenge the heartache of 12 months ago.

The 17-year-old, who justified his status as the biggest name in the sport, prepared for Friday night’s blockbusting clash with the three-time champion by reminding himself of where it went wrong against Humphries.

Luke Littler believes he can hunt down Phil Taylor’s record of 16 world titles after becoming the youngest ever champion.

The 17-year-old consolidated his status as the biggest star in the game by winning the World Championship with a 7-3 demolition of Michael van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace.

Littler has already achieved things away from the oche that the great Taylor could never do by transcending the sport, but says he also has the talent – and time – to match his sporting records as well.

Luke Littler became the youngest darts world champion on Friday night as his amazing teenage dream continued.

The 17-year-old claimed an historic place in the sport as he defeated Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the Alexandra Palace final, having fallen at the final hurdle a year ago.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of sport’s other teenage prodigies in recent years.

Luke Littler realised his dream by winning the World Championship after bulldozing his way past Michael van Gerwen.

The 17-year-old sensation beat Van Gerwen 7-3 in a one-sided final to become the youngest ever world champion.

Victory consolidates his position as the top dog in the sport and avenges the final defeat he suffered to Luke Humphries on debut last year.