Luke Littler has secured his second consecutive World Darts Championship title, crushing Gian van Veen 7-1 in the final at Alexandra Palace to claim a record £1 million prize. The 18-year-old becomes the first player in a decade to win back-to-back world titles.
The teenager dominated from the outset, reeling off seven consecutive sets after losing the first to secure darts' richest prize. Littler averaged almost 106 and hit 15 maximums in a performance that underlined his current supremacy in the sport.
The victory was far from smooth, however. The match was halted twice in bizarre circumstances – first when the infamous "Ally Pally wasp" returned to interrupt play, then when blood from van Veen's accidentally cut hand stained the board. Officials were forced to change the board despite pre-match assurances it would remain unchanged.
Record-Breaking Achievement
Littler's win marks a significant milestone in darts history. He becomes the first player to claim the £1 million top prize and joins an elite group of back-to-back champions – a feat not achieved since Gary Anderson a decade ago.
The young star has now reached the final in all three of his World Championship appearances. He lost to Luke Humphries in 2024 as a 16-year-old, defeated Michael van Gerwen in 2025, and now successfully defended his crown.
«It feels amazing. It's what dreams are made of,» Littler said after his victory. «Nothing will ever beat a first world title for anyone in any sport, because that's the first time you've done it. But this was all about retaining it, bringing it back home with me for another 11 or 12 months, and adding my name to the list of players to go back-to-back. It's a very short list, but I'm on it.»
Crushing Defeat for Van Veen
For 23-year-old van Veen, the final represented a crushing blow after an impressive run to his maiden championship final. The Dutchman had defeated former champions on his route, including Luke Humphries and Gary Anderson, to climb to world No. 3.
«Not the outcome I wanted, of course,» van Veen told reporters. «I said before the game that I wanted to win this title, but first of all I wanted to give Luke a game, because he's a fantastic player. I wanted it to be close, because I knew if it was close, I'd have a chance. That didn't happen today.»
Van Veen described the overwhelming pressure of playing Littler, comparing it to the intimidation Phil Taylor once exerted. Missing a crucial dart in the second set likely determined the match's trajectory, as Littler's relentless scoring left no room for recovery.
Pizza Feast and Future Plans
Exhausted after his triumph, Littler celebrated with a £150 pizza feast at his London accommodation. «I'm very tired. It was a bit busy in the household and I think everyone was a bit excited,» he revealed. «I think we got like 150 quid's worth of pizzas in for everyone. We all had a bite to eat. I managed to get about four hours of sleep.»
The teenager plans to travel to the Middle East next week for tournaments in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia before treating himself to a Dubai holiday. When asked about spending his prize money, Littler noted he cannot yet buy a new car due to insurance requirements.
«The money is life-changing,» he acknowledged, though he emphasized that retaining the trophy mattered most.
Massive Viewership and Sport's Growth
The final attracted a peak audience of 2.5 million viewers on Sky, demonstrating darts' surging popularity. The sport sold 170,000 tickets for the championships in pre-sale, with 20% going to international supporters.
Littler's appeal is transforming the sport's demographics. Children sporting Littler merchandise have become a common sight, with the teenager acknowledging "the Luke Littler effect is well and truly still going."
Plans are underway to move next year's championship to Alexandra Palace's larger Great Hall, which holds over 5,000 spectators compared to the current 3,200-capacity West Hall.
Legacy Ambitions
Despite his youth, Littler has already set his sights on darts' ultimate records. He wants to surpass Phil Taylor's 16 world titles and break his record for most days as world No. 1.
«I want to put down a legacy here, I want to win so many trophies. There's so many years left. We don't stop here. We keep going,» Littler declared.
When asked about catching Taylor's record, he was pragmatic: «Obviously it's so far away. What's it, 14 to go? Another 15, 16 years, I'd say.»
Littler has already earned nearly £3 million in just two years on the PDC circuit. His 10th major trophy in 21 attempts demonstrates a consistency that suggests his dominance is far from over.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
