Luke Littler cemented his place among darts’ elite after claiming a second straight Paddy Power World Darts Championship title, declaring that “dreams have come true once again” following another dominant run at Alexandra Palace. The world number one overwhelmed Gian van Veen 7-1 in the final to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy for the second consecutive year.
With the victory, Littler became only the fourth player in PDC history to defend a World Championship crown, joining Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson. At just 18, he also etched his name into the record books as the first-ever recipient of the £1 million top prize, introduced after increased prize funds across PDC events.
“It feels amazing, dreams have come true once again at Ally Pally,” Littler said. “It’s special to join those greats on that list of players to go back-to-back, it’s amazing.” He added that the longer tournament tested him physically and mentally, but the reward made it worthwhile: “The first winner of the £1m prize, that’s pretty special.”
The final itself was historic, contested by the youngest pair ever, with Littler facing 23-year-old Van Veen. Littler believes their frequent clashes signal a long-term rivalry, saying, “It’s definitely a rivalry that will come for a long time.” Both players’ rapid rise suggests a new era in the sport, even as established stars remain in the mix.
Littler’s campaign was one of the most dominant in history, conceding just four sets across seven matches — a feat bettered only by Taylor. Despite comparisons to the 16-time champion, Littler remains grounded. “You can always improve,” he admitted, stressing his focus on consistency, preparation, and extending his reign as world number one.
Already a winner of 10 Premier events, the teenage sensation insists his hunger remains strong heading into 2026: “This is always what I wanted to do… hopefully more titles will come in 2026.”
Source: PDC.TV
