Alexandra Palace erupted as 18-year-old Luke Littler delivered a scintillating display of precision and composure, annihilating Gian van Veen 7-1 to claim his second consecutive PDC World Championship, cementing his status as the sport’s rising phenomenon.
Littler’s performance was nothing short of masterful. The English teenager, already a prodigy in the darts world, joined an exclusive fraternity of back-to-back champions alongside legends Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, and Gary Anderson.
His dominance at Alexandra Palace only his third appearance at the iconic venue demonstrates a maturity and flair well beyond his years.
With this victory, Littler positions himself among the elite: only Phil Taylor (14 titles) and Michael van Gerwen (3 titles) have more PDC World Championships.
While 12 titles shy of Taylor’s monumental record, the ferocity and control Littler displayed against Van Veen suggest that “The Nuke” could one day rewrite the sport’s history books.
Throughout the final, Littler averaged over 107, finishing at 106.02, while Van Veen struggled to maintain parity, averaging just below 100.
The defining moment came with a stunning 147 checkout, prompting a roar from a crowd that had been on its feet for the entire match.
“It’s an indescribable feeling,” Littler said post-match. “We’ve got to keep pushing, keep adding more titles. This rollercoaster isn’t stopping anytime soon we’re just getting started.”
With the £1 million prize in hand, Littler’s emotions spilled over as he was embraced by Van Veen in a show of sportsmanship.
The night reached its crescendo when Littler was presented with the Sid Waddell Trophy by Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, a fitting tribute to a performance that will be remembered as one of darts’ most commanding displays.
