Luke Littler delivered another unforgettable night at Alexandra Palace as he swept aside Gian van Veen to successfully defend the Paddy Power World Darts Championship title, sealing a landmark victory on Saturday evening.
The 18-year-old became the first £1 million world champion and only the fourth player in history to retain the Sid Waddell Trophy, joining Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson. Littler dominated the final with a 7–1 triumph, averaging 106 and wrapping up proceedings in just over 43 minutes.
Competing in his third straight World Championship final, the world number one was at his destructive best, firing in 16 maximums and converting 46% of his doubles in a performance that left little room for resistance.
Van Veen made a strong start, surviving four set darts to take the opening set and then threatening to surge into a two-set lead with stunning 145 and 127 finishes. Littler, however, responded emphatically. A clinical 116 checkout levelled the match, before an 11-darter and a spectacular 170 finish pushed him 2–1 ahead.
From there, momentum swung decisively. Littler produced a trio of 15-dart legs to stretch his advantage, and although Van Veen briefly slowed the charge with a classy 137 finish in the fifth set, the teenager quickly reasserted control. A dominant six-leg spell moved Littler 5–1 clear, and missed doubles from the Dutchman proved costly as opportunities slipped away.
Van Veen showed flashes of brilliance, including six perfect darts in set seven, but Littler remained relentless. An 11-dart break moved him to the brink, and he sealed victory in style in the eighth set, following his 16th 180 with a superb 147 checkout on double 15.
Littler’s path to the title included wins over Darius Labanauskas, David Davies, Mensur Suljovic, Rob Cross, Krzysztof Ratajski and Ryan Searle, conceding just four sets throughout the tournament. The success places him among an elite group of seven multiple-time world champions, alongside Taylor, Lewis, Anderson, Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright and John Part.
Despite defeat, Van Veen leaves Alexandra Palace with plenty to celebrate. The 23-year-old climbed to third on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder, collected £400,000 in prize money and overtook Michael van Gerwen to become the new Dutch number one, having eliminated former champions Luke Humphries and Gary Anderson during his run.
The final result capped a historic championship, firmly establishing Littler’s status at the top of the sport and signalling that his remarkable rise shows no signs of slowing.
