Luke Littler is the youngest world champion in the history of darts at the age of 17 after defeating Michael van Gerwen.
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Luke Littler is the 2025 world champion after thrashing Michael van Gerwen in a one-sided World Darts Championship final at the Alexandra Palace.
Littler was billed as the pre-tournament favourite to go all the way at the Alexandra Palace - one year after his historic run came to an end against Luke Humphries.
Van Gerwen was the man hoping to stop the teen sensation this time around after a surprise run to the final.
The Dutchman had been woefully out of form throughout 2024 and failed to win a single PDC title for only the second time in the past 13 years.
Luke Littler is the 2025 world champion
REUTERS
Van Gerwen showed his pedigree as a three-time world champion to make it to the final for the seventh time in his career.
But he was facing a tall order against Littler, who began to find top gear in the latter stages of the tournament.
Neither players have been fast starters and that was evident in the opening set with both averaging low scores and Littler failing to hit a single maximum.
However, the 17-year-old was accurate when it mattered most for the doubles as he quickly wrapped up the opening set.
That appeared to settle some nerves for the teen as he quickly found his rhythm in the second with his trademark double-10 finish proving deadly.
Van Gerwen was being punished for every miss and it wasn't long before Littler moved 4-0 up in sets to leave him on the brink of history.
The three-time world champion eventually stopped the rot in style with an incredible 132 checkout for his first set on the board.
But that failed to throw Littler off his game as he regained his four-set lead once again on double 10 and averaged an incredible 110.1.
Luke Littler was in tears after his victory
REUTERS
Van Gerwen pulled another set back in the seventh, but there were no cheers from the Dutchman with plenty of work still left to do.
Littler was back on top once again in the eighth, which included another 11-dart leg as he moved to within one set of becoming world champion.
The 35-year-old once again pegged Littler back as he threatened an incredible comeback.
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Michael van Gerwen was unable to stop Luke Littler
REUTERS
But there was no stopping Littler in the 10th set as the darts prodigy clinched an emotional victory.
He nearly did so in style after hitting two bullseyes before missing double 16 for the title.
Van Gerwen was unable to respond and Littler made sure of the victory eventually before bursting into tears on stage.
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