Luke Littler hopes the experience he gained from last year’s World Darts Championship final defeat by Luke Humphries will prove useful when he takes on Michael van Gerwen tonight.
Littler paved the way to the title match 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 in which he won the Premier League, the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Darts Championship, among others.
Not only that, he became one of the most recognizable faces in British sport and took the 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 was in numerous finals; this is only my second, but I know where I went wrong last year and I’m sure I’ll fix it.
“It would mean everything to lift this title, but my only focus now is winning seven sets tomorrow night.”
🗣️ “It would mean everything to win this title!”
Luke Littler reflects on his sensational semi-final win over Stephen Bunting, 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 with a 6-1 win over Stephen Bunting, showing a composure and confidence that he had often lacked in earlier matches.
“I felt very confident tonight. The best I felt was against Nathan [Aspinall] in the quarter-finals, but I’m just glad to be playing with such conviction,” added Littler.
“I hit the right shots when I need to. Stephen was right behind me the whole game, so I couldn’t let myself off the gas.”
Mighty Mike should not be underestimated
Tonight, the imposing figure of Dutch giant Van Gerwen stands in his way.
The three-time world champion was too much for Chris Dobey in their semi-final last night, winning 6-1 with minimal fuss.
The 35-year-old has had a disappointing year by his lofty standards, but a win tonight would reinforce his belief that he can still go with world number one Humphries and Littler.
“I only reached the final, and the final means nothing. I want to win and that’s the only thing that matters to me,” he said.
“For me, the whole package has to be right, and the train is still moving that way, which is a good thing.
“My experience could be very important, but I haven’t won anything yet. We still have a long way to go.”
🗣️ “The whole package must be right!”
Michael van Gerwen gives his reaction after beating Chris Dobey 6-1 to reach his seventh World Cup 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.
Prediction
A year ago, it seemed destined that Littler would crown his remarkable run to the finals with a victory. That, however, did not take into account the fact that Humphries was the better player at the time.
At the moment, Littler is stronger than Van Gerwen and if the match took place in the local pub, you’d be making good money on the teenager.
However, this is the biggest day in the darts calendar when all eyes will be on Alexandra Palace and most will be focused on intrigue to see if the prince can become king.
And that’s how the match will be decided. Can Littler keep his cool despite the massive interest he’s generating? In many ways it’s a free kick for Van Gerwen and that makes him dangerous.
Still, it’s impossible to bet against Littler. He has done everything in his power this year and, although mentally this remains the biggest hurdle to overcome, we believe he will do so and potentially begin a monopoly on the game’s biggest prize.
