In the electrifying world of professional darts, where precision and consistency define greatness, Michael van Gerwen has long been the undisputed king of televised three-dart averages. The Dutch maestro, a three-time PDC World Champion, has dominated the record books with an unparalleled ability to deliver staggering performances under the bright lights of television. Data compiled over the past decade reveals that van Gerwen tops the list of players with the highest TV averages for entire calendar years, a testament to his relentless scoring and unshakable focus. Yet, in 2025, a teenage prodigy, Luke Littler, is closing the gap, his explosive rise signaling a generational shift that could soon see him challenge van Gerwen’s throne.
Van Gerwen’s dominance is no small feat. In 2017, he achieved a staggering TV average of 103.38 across the year’s televised matches, a figure that remains the benchmark for excellence. His 2016 season was nearly as remarkable, with a 102.68 average, followed closely by 101.81 in 2018 and 101.40 in 2015. These numbers reflect not just raw talent but a consistency that has defined his career. “When things go well, I know how well I can play,” van Gerwen once said, reflecting on a 2016 performance where he set a world-record televised match average of 123.40 against Michael Smith in the Premier League. That night in Aberdeen, he needed just 66 darts to demolish his opponent 7-1, missing a double 18 that could have pushed his average above 133—an almost unthinkable feat. His ability to produce such numbers, including 371 televised 100+ averages over the past decade, underscores why he’s been the sport’s defining figure, amassing more than double the 100+ averages of his closest rival.
Enter Luke Littler, the 18-year-old sensation who has taken darts by storm. In 2025, Littler posted a remarkable TV average of 102.91, placing him second only to van Gerwen’s 2017 peak. His 2024 average of 101.13 also ranks among the all-time greats, a stunning achievement for a player who burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old at the 2023 World Championship. Littler’s meteoric rise culminated in a historic 7-3 victory over van Gerwen in the 2025 PDC World Championship final, where he became the youngest champion at 17 years and 347 days, smashing van Gerwen’s previous record set at age 24 in 2014. “I’ve said in interviews that I needed to get off to a quick start tonight and that’s what I did,” Littler said after the final, where he averaged 102.73 and threw 12 180s. His clinical 56% checkout ratio and 76 maximums—the most in the tournament—earned him the Ballon d’Art trophy, further cementing his status as a generational talent.
Littler’s 2025 season has been a masterclass in consistency. He achieved 16 averages above 105, doubling the tally of second-placed Gerwyn Price, and threw 38 100+ averages in 52 official matches, far surpassing Luke Humphries’ 22. His record-breaking 140.91 average in a single set against Ryan Meikle at the 2025 World Championship remains the highest ever recorded in the event, eclipsing Price’s 136.64 from 2021. “Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy,” Littler said, reflecting on his World Championship triumph. His ability to deliver under pressure, including a 114 average in a 2024 Premier League win over van Gerwen, has drawn comparisons to Phil Taylor, whose 102.18 average in 2015 and 101.02 in 2016 still rank among the decade’s best.
The contrast between van Gerwen and Littler is striking. Van Gerwen, now 35, relies on explosive scoring and a relentless pace honed over a decade of dominance. His 118.52 average in a 2023 Players Championship Finals rout of Ross Smith and multiple 116+ averages in the Premier League highlight his enduring brilliance. Yet, his 2025 World Championship final loss to Littler, where he averaged 100 but struggled with a 36.8% checkout rate, revealed vulnerabilities. “I was 4-0 behind and after that I didn’t do myself justice,” van Gerwen admitted, graciously praising Littler as a “star.” Littler, meanwhile, combines raw power with an almost supernatural calm, his 104 televised 100+ averages over the past decade placing him fifth behind van Gerwen (371), Peter Wright (164), Gary Anderson, and Gerwyn Price (both 143).
As darts evolves, Littler’s trajectory suggests he could soon eclipse van Gerwen’s records. His 2024 season, which included Premier League, World Series, and Grand Slam titles, plus four nine-dart finishes, has already reshaped the sport’s landscape. With viewership soaring—Sky Sports reported a 39% increase for the 2024-25 World Championship, driven by Littler’s star power—the teenager is not just chasing records but redefining darts’ global appeal. Van Gerwen remains a towering figure, but Littler’s relentless scoring and clutch performances signal that the future is now. As the sport braces for their next showdown, the question isn’t if Littler will claim the top spot, but when.
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