Luke Littler secures his second PDC World Championship title with an impressive 7-1 victory over Gian van Veen at Alexandra Palace. Despite losing the first set, the 18-year-old rallied to claim the Sid Worrell Trophy.
During the final match, Littler faced an unexpected interruption when a wasp disrupted his game. Additionally, organizers had to replace the dartboard due to Van Veen’s blood staining it.
The young champion will earn a substantial £1 million in prize money, with the winner’s purse doubling from the previous year to £500,000. Van Veen will take home £400,000 for his commendable performance in reaching the final.
Sir Chris Hoy, a cycling icon and seven-time Olympic medalist currently battling prostate cancer, presented Littler and Van Veen with their trophies on stage.
Littler now joins a prestigious group of players as the fourth in history to clinch consecutive world darts titles, following the footsteps of Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, and Gary Anderson.
Expressing his elation, Littler thanked John McDonald and George Noble for their contributions to darts and dedicated his victory to Anthony Joshua’s deceased friends. He commended Van Veen for his tournament performance and acknowledged the importance of his comeback after a slow start in the final.
As discussions arise about Littler’s place in darting history, the significant increase in prize money and his rise to the world number one ranking solidify his position as a dominant force in the sport.
Praising Littler’s exceptional performance, former world champion John Part described him as an extraordinary player, capable of achieving the improbable in darts. Van Veen admitted his disappointment with his performance in the final, recognizing Littler’s superior gameplay and missed opportunities on his part.
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