Luke Littler beats Michael van Gerwen 7-3 to become youngest PDC world darts champion
Littler, 17, triumphs after losing in final on debut last year
Van Gerwen, 35, misses out on fourth title
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Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen
Sam Drury
BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace
Incredible! What a performance!
History is made and Luke Littler is overcome with emotion.
An adoring crowd are on their feet.
Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen
2024 Premier League champion.
2024 World Series Finals champion.
2024 Grand Slam of Darts champion.
And now the world champion.
All before the age of 18.
This kid is special.
Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen
The emotion is released and the tears start to flow from the eyes of Luke Littler.
The 17-year-old's dream is realised.
A classy embrace from Michael van Gerwen, who was beaten by the better player tonight.
Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen
HE'S DONE IT!
18 days before his 18th birthday, Luke Littler becomes the youngest world darts champion in history.
Littler 6-3 Van Gerwen (2-0)
Sam Drury
BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace
Ally Pally is ready to erupt. One more leg needed for Luke Littler…
*Littler 6-3 Van Gerwen (2-0)
Luke Littler finishes 62 on double top.
History beckons for the teenager...
Littler 6-3 Van Gerwen (1-0)
Dan Dawson
Commentator on Sky Sports
It's a cheat code for Luke Littler tonight, that double 10.
Littler 6-3 Van Gerwen* (1-0)
The equation changes again for Luke Littler - he needs three legs again to be crowned world champion.
There's the first on them, won on, you guessed it, double 10.
Littler 6-3 Van Gerwen (0-0)
Sam Drury
BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace
Big cheers from the crowd as Michael van Gerwen keeps this final going just a little bit longer.
*Littler 6-3 Van Gerwen (0-0)
Michael van Gerwen extends the final into a 10th set.
Impressive stuff from the Dutchman to keep this one going. He's certainly not given up.
*Littler 6-2 Van Gerwen (1-2)
Luke Littler finds himself miles back in the third leg of the set and there's no pressure on Michael van Gerwen's shot at double eight, which finds the target.
Littler 6-2 Van Gerwen* (1-1)
A routine hold for Luke Littler. He's two legs away, although Michael van Gerwen has the advantage of throwing first in this set.
Image source, Taylor Lanning/PDC*Littler 6-2 Van Gerwen (0-1)
Luke Littler falls at the final hurdle going for a 164 checkout, allowing Michael van Gerwen to win the opener.
Littler 6-2 Van Gerwen* (0-0)
The players are back from a break and Michael van Gerwen is throwing first in the opening leg of the ninth set.
No margin for error now for the 35-year-old Dutchman.
Littler 6-2 Van Gerwen (0-0)
It's been Luke Littler's finishing that has been the most impressive aspect of his play in this World Championship final.
Of the 37 goes he's had at a winning double, he's hit 21 of them (56.76%).
Hit three more and he'll be world champion.
Littler 6-2 Van Gerwen* (0-0)
A clean sweep in set eight for Luke Littler and he's one set away from the world title!
Littler 5-2 Van Gerwen (2-0)
Dan Dawson
Commentator on Sky Sports
There are times tonight when Luke Littler is just tossing sticks of dynamite about on that stage and Michael van Gerwen just can't live with it.
*Littler 5-2 Van Gerwen (2-0)
A brilliant 177 from Luke Littler piles the pressure on Michael van Gerwen and the 17-year-old breaks with an 11-dart leg.
He's inching closer to that winning line.
Littler 5-2 Van Gerwen* (1-0)
The "1" and "0" keys on my keyboard are taking a battering tonight. Luke Littler finds double 10 again.
A comfortable hold of throw to start the eighth set.
Littler 5-2 Van Gerwen
Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports
He's set his stall out from the word go and got himself a healthy lead and he just has to defend that now as it's Michael who has to really push and try and make something back.
Michael just needs this next set and put a little bit of pressure on Luke and see if he folds, that's all he can do.