Luke Littler defeated Michael van Gerwen to become the youngest ever PDC World Darts Championship winner on Friday night
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Luke Littler’s pre-match ritual of enjoying sweets and playing a game of FIFA has reportedly ruffled some feathers among his fellow darts players, according to commentator Dan Dawson.
The 17-year-old prodigy realised his dream on Friday, taking down Michael van Gerwen 7-3 to become the youngest PDC World Darts Championship winner.
Prior to the season finale, Dawson revealed Littler’s unconventional backstage routine before stepping onto the oche. Unlike many of his peers who typically warm up with practice throws before hitting the stage, Littler’s approach seems to have ‘upset’ some players.
Despite deviating from the norm, it’s hard to argue against Littler’s method given the success he’s enjoyed throughout the 2024 season. His victories include winning the World Series of Darts and the Premier League titles, even scoring a nine-darter in the final of the latter.
While competing in the Dutch Masters in 2024, ahead of his opening match against Dirk van Duijvenbode, Littler was seen engrossed in scrolling through his Ultimate Team on the EAFC 24 Web App. The young star was clearly keen to keep tabs on the eagerly awaited Team of the Year release, even just moments before his stage appearance.
Littler started 2025 on a high, admitting that he had dreamt of lifting the world championship trophy after narrowly missing out in the previous year’s final against Luke Humphries.
“If I end 2025 with nothing else, I’ve picked up the big one. I can’t believe it. Honestly, I can’t believe it. I needed to get off to a quick start and that’s what I did. Since the winning double I’ve been walking around the stage telling myself I’ve won it and it’s mine.”
“To be youngest world champion is special – even if it didn’t happen tonight I knew I would get another opportunity but to get this job done is amazing. I settled well and didn’t feel any nerves. To win first set was crucial and when I went 4-0 up I could start believing.”
The Warrington sensation has now scooped an additional £500,000 following his historic World Championship victory, propelling him to second place in the global rankings, just behind Humphries, who suffered an earlier departure from the competition in the fourth round at the hands of former world
champ Peter Wright.
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