Luke Littler hopes the experience gained from last year’s World Darts Championship final defeat by Luke Humphries will prove beneficial when he takes on Michael van Gerwen tonight.
Littler blazed a path to the title race 12 months ago after starting the tournament as an unknown 16-year-old.
Humphries proved too strong on that occasion, but Littler returns a year after continuing his meteoric rise to prominence with a season that saw him win the Premier League, the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Series of Darts among others.
Not only that, he has emerged as one of the most recognizable faces in British sport and has taken interest in darts to a new level.
“I’ve gained a lot of experience over the last year,” said Littler, who averages 102 in his five matches at Alexandra Palace.
“Michael has been to a lot of finals. This is only my second one, but I know where I went wrong last year, and I’m sure I’ll fix it.
“It would mean everything to lift that title, but my only focus right now is to win seven sets tomorrow night.”
🗣️ “It would mean everything to lift this title!”
Luke Littler reflects on a shock semi-final win over Steven Budding as he looks ahead to a blockbuster final against Michael van Gerwen tomorrow night…#WCDarts pic.twitter.com/VRkFqRXmvu
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 2, 2025
Littler eased into the final against Steven Bunting 6-1, displaying a composure and confidence often lacking in his previous matches.
“I felt very confident tonight. The best I felt was against Nathan (Aspinall) in the quarter-finals, but I’m glad to be playing with such belief,” Littler added.
“I hit the right shots when I need to. Steven was right behind me the whole game so I couldn’t afford to let off the gas.”
Mighty Mike is not to be underestimated
Standing in his way tonight is the imposing figure of the great Dutchman Van Gerwen.
The three-time world champion was too strong for Chris Dobey in their semi-final last night, winning 6-1 with little fuss.
The 35-year-old has had a disappointing year by his own lofty standards, but a win tonight would boost his belief that he can still go toe-to-toe with world number one Humphries and Littler.
“I have only reached the final and the final means nothing. I want to win and that’s all that matters to me,” he said.
“For me the overall package has to be right and the train is still running that way, which is good.
“My experience could be very important, but I haven’t won anything yet. We are still far away.”
🗣️ “The total package has to be right!”
Michael van Gerwen reacts after dispatching Chris Dobey 6-1 to reach his seventh World Championship final!#WCDarts pic.twitter.com/5RsFKAb8ca
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 2, 2025
How to watch
The PDC World Championship is shown on Sky Sports in the UK.
You can watch the final on Sky Sports Darts and Main Event from 19:30 GMT.
Prophecy
A year ago it seemed destined that Littler would cap off his remarkable run to the finals with a win. This, however, did not take into account the fact that Humphries was, at the time, the best player.
Right now, Littler is stronger than Van Gerwen and if the game was played in the local pub, you’d put good money on the teenager.
However, this is the biggest day of the Arrow calendar when all eyes will be on Alexandra Palace with the majority tuning in with intrigue to see if the prince can become king.
And that’s how the match will be decided. Can Littler stay ready despite the massive interest he’s generating? In many ways it’s a free kick for Van Gerwen and that makes him dangerous.
That said, it’s impossible to bet against Littler. He’s taken it all in his own hands this year, and while mentally that remains the biggest hurdle to overcome, we believe he will and possibly start a monopoly on the game’s biggest prize.
2025-01-03 10:51:00
