In a spectacle that left the darts world breathless, 18-year-old sensation Luke Littler etched his name deeper into immortality by retaining his PDC World Darts Championship crown with a ruthless 7-1 demolition of Gian van Veen at London’s Alexandra Palace. The electric atmosphere crackled as Littler, known as ‘The Nuke,’ unleashed a barrage of precision darts, averaging a blistering 106.02— the highest in a World final since 2018. Over just 43 minutes, he fired in 16 maximum 180s, nailed a stunning 147 checkout to seal victory, and converted 46% of his doubles, turning what could have been a tense battle into a masterclass of dominance.
Van Veen, the rising Dutch star and new world number three, snatched the opening set with a clinical 116 finish, even threatening to surge 2-0 ahead after missing key doubles. But Littler regrouped ferociously after the break, ripping off seven straight sets. A 170 checkout in the third set ignited his rampage, followed by hat-tricks of 15-dart legs and relentless pressure that left Van Veen chasing shadows. “Gian had an incredible tournament, knocking out Luke Humphries and Gary Anderson—he can hold his head high,” Littler reflected post-match. “But in every set, he was right there, so I had to take my chances. I started playing better from the break, moved my stance, and it all came together.”
This triumph marks Littler as only the fourth player in PDC history to go back-to-back, joining the elite company of legends Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, and Gary Anderson—the last to retain in 2016. At 18, he’s also the youngest ever to achieve it, surpassing Michael van Gerwen’s previous mark. Littler conceded just four sets across the entire tournament, dispatching opponents like Rob Cross and Ryan Searle with ease. The cherry on top? A groundbreaking £1 million winner’s prize—the first time the top payout has hit seven figures—pushing his lead over Humphries in the world rankings to insurmountable heights. “The million quid is life-changing, absolutely,” Littler grinned. “But the trophy comes first. My name’s on that short list now.”
Littler’s rollercoaster journey is nothing short of darts folklore. Just three years ago, a 16-year-old prodigy burst onto the scene as runner-up. Last year, he claimed his maiden title over Van Gerwen. Now, with two Worlds under his belt—plus UK Open, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, and Grand Slam honors—he’s amassed ten majors before turning 19, outpacing even Anderson and Lewis at similar stages. Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle hailed him: “He’s a magnificent talent, right up there with Taylor and Van Gerwen.”
As confetti rained down, Littler’s phone buzzed with a heartfelt instant message from the sport’s ultimate icon, 16-time world champion Phil Taylor. “Great performance, Luke ‘n’uke. Well done, buddy. Keep focused,” read the simple yet poignant words from ‘The Power’ himself. Taylor, who won his second title at 31 and dominated for two decades, has long admired the teenager’s meteoric rise. Littler, eyes gleaming with ambition, didn’t shy away from the ultimate benchmark. “It’s crazy what I’ve done, but I want to beat Phil Taylor’s record,” he declared. “14 to go? Another 15-16 years, I’d say. It’s so far away, but if I stay hungry and around for long enough, who knows? If I get five or six, I’ll be happy—but I’m here to win everything and dominate.”
The Ally Pally faithful, who once booed him after a heated Rob Cross clash, roared their approval, a testament to Littler’s unshakeable charisma. Famished from focus—he hadn’t eaten all day until scarfing a margarita pizza at the venue—Littler admitted, “On stage, at times I am unstoppable. This is what dreams are made of.” With majors like the World Masters looming, rivals like Van Veen (who vowed, “I know I can match him—we’re taking over”), Josh Rock, and Humphries brace for more fireworks.
Littler’s message is clear: the kid from Warrington isn’t slowing down. In a sport once ruled by Taylor’s iron grip, ‘The Nuke’ is rewriting history—one treble at a time. Darts has a new dynasty in the making.
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