Luke Littler is on the brink of cementing his place among darts' all-time greats as he prepares to contest his third consecutive World Championship final. The 18-year-old prodigy crushed Ryan Searle 6-1 in the semi-finals at Alexandra Palace, powering through the competition with a display reminiscent of legends Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.
Littler is chasing an extraordinary feat—the first back-to-back World Championship title since Gary Anderson achieved it a decade ago. The Sid Waddell Trophy awaits him on Saturday night, and the young star is confident that a second title win will align him with the giants of the sport.
“Phil and Michael were phenomenal in their primes. I’ve watched them growing up,” Littler reflected. “With my performances, titles, high averages, and televised nine-darters, I feel I’m approaching that level. If I win tomorrow, maybe I can truly say I’m on their level. But I never claim I’m going to win—I’ll let the darts decide.”
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A victory would also grant Littler a record-breaking £1 million prize. Yet, for him, the trophy holds greater significance than the money. “Since the Grand Slam, my focus has been on going back-to-back. Winning the trophy again is my main goal. The money will come later,” he added.
Joining Littler in the final is the rising Dutch star Gian van Veen, who triumphed in a gripping semi-final clash against Anderson. The battle was a seesaw affair that ended 6-3 in Van Veen’s favor, with both players delivering outstanding performances, averaging over 102, hitting maximum 170 finishes, and showcasing powerful scoring.
However, it was Van Veen’s clinical finishing that secured his breakthrough win over the seasoned Anderson. Now ranked world number three, the 23-year-old is just one win away from lifting his first senior major title and following in the footsteps of Dutch legends Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen.
“I’m overjoyed,” Van Veen said after the match. “Ten years ago, or even five, I was struggling. Three or four years ago in Barnsley, I had dartitis and was in tears. To be here now, about to play in a World Championship final, makes it all worth it.”
Saturday’s final promises to be a sensational showdown between two young talents poised to shape the future of darts.