Luke Littler breezed past Stephen Bunting and made it back-to-back PDC World Championship finals, with the 18-year-old now due to face three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen on Friday
Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler believes that Friday’s mouth-watering clash with Michael van Gerwen promises to be a classic after reaching his second successive PDC World Championship final.
Littler, who’s just 17, cruised past Stephen Bunting 6-1 in their semi-final clash on Thursday to set up a showpiece battle with three-time champion Van Gerwen. The Warrington wonderkid produced a dominant display as Bunting continually slipped up, most prominently when he had the darts and could’ve made it 4-2.
Van Gerwen and Littler have already faced off 12 times, with the Dutchman edging their head-to-head record 6-5. Littler, however, won their last meeting in October 6-1.
Speaking to Sky Sports after beating Bunting at a rocking Alexandra Palace, a beaming Littler said: “It’s been an amazing tournament so far. People will say I was looking at the title throughout the tournament but I was looking at the first game against Ryan Meikle, and ever since I’ve just got to beat what’s in front of me. I’m so glad to win tonight.
“I’ve played a lot better and won plenty of titles leading up to this, but that’s what we do, we lead up to the big one. There are majors all year round but I can’t wait for tomorrow night.
“If we [Littler and Van Gerwen] both turn up like we did tonight, it [the final] is going to be really good. As soon as Luke Humphries went out, that’s what everyone was looking at. I just had to focus on my quarter-final and semi-final, and now I’ve done that I can focus on Michael tomorrow.
“We all know he’s hunting for that world title but I’m hunting for my first. The same as last night – go home, chill out and be back tomorrow.”
Who’ll win the final – Luke Littler or Michael van Gerwen? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
Earlier on Thursday, Van Gerwen also defeated Chris Dobey 6-1. The 35-year-old hasn’t lifted the Sid Warrell trophy since 2019 and he’s desperate to celebrate again at Ally Pally.
“I can be happy with the performance. Of course, I wasn’t playing as explosive as I did in the last game,” Van Gerwen told Sky Sports. “I’m here with a mission, with a target. As part of it, you’re always going to have ups and downs.
“We’re not even close yet. We’re so far away yet. The title is far away. That’s what you have to keep telling yourself. I want to keep battling while I’ve got everything in my body. It’s my life.
“But that can wait until tomorrow. I haven’t won f*** all yet. It’s going to be incredible. The crowd’s loving it, the people at home are loving it. This is darts at a high level. I can be happy with the performance. Of course I wasn’t playing as explosive as I was in the last game, but I was efficient.”
