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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*Littler 5-2 Van Gerwen (0-0)
Luke Littler had a 4-2 lead in last year's final against Luke Humphries and had chances for a 5-2 advantage, but in the end the teenager fell short and lost 7-4.
He has that 5-2 lead just past the midway point of this year's final. Will it be enough to see him to glory?
Littler 5-2 Van Gerwen (0-0)
A checkout is when a player hits the exact combination of numbers on the board that brings the score to zero - winning that leg.
You can only win a leg by hitting a double or the bullseye - so if a player has 20 points left, a dart in single 20 won't do the job! They will instead go for double 10.
The highest number that a player can successfully check out on in three darts is 170 - two treble 20s, followed by the bullseye.
Is there anything you've ever wanted to know about darts? Well, BBC Sport has created a handy guide to the sport, where you might just find the answer...
*Littler 5-2 Van Gerwen (0-0)
Well there's an 11th Luke Littler maximum...
But it's Michael van Gerwen who takes a crucial seventh set! Lose that and it probably would have been curtains for the three-time champ.
Littler 5-1 Van Gerwen (2-2)
Luke Littler's 10th 180 takes him to 74 for the tournament and just nine away from matching Michael Smith's record of 83 set in 2022.
Another 10 will break it, but at this rate will there be enough darts left in this match for Littler to do it?
Littler 5-1 Van Gerwen* (2-2)
Michael van Gerwen is putting some pressure on Luke Littler with some heavier scoring in recent legs, but Littler is coping very well indeed.
*Littler 5-1 Van Gerwen (1-2)
And Luke Littler follows that 124 finish with his 10th 180 of the final, drawing level on that stat with Michael van Gerwen.
But Van Gerwen holds in 12 darts to move within one leg of the set.
Littler 5-1 Van Gerwen* (1-1)
A second ton-plus finish of the match for Luke Littler, this time a 124, levels the set.
Littler 5-1 Van Gerwen (0-1)
Sam Drury
BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace
After laying up rather than going for the bull, a stern-faced Luke Littler gives a fist-pump to the crowd.
He made absolutely sure he didn’t give Michael van Gerwen a sniff in that leg. The difference between 5-1 and 4-2 is huge.
*Littler 5-1 Van Gerwen (0-1)
A fairly routine hold of throw to start the seventh set for Michael van Gerwen, but he'll need something lot more than "routine" to find a way back in this one.
Littler 5-1 Van Gerwen
Dan Dawson
Commentator on Sky Sports
Has too much damage been done over the opening six sets of this final for even the mighty Michael van Gerwen to come back from here?
That was a 110 average in the last set from Littler and if he carries on like that this could be over very quickly.
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Maybe the earlier news that Apple AI announced Luke had won wasn't so premature.
Andrew
If you missed it earlier, a news summary from Apple falsely claimed Littler had won the PDC World Championship before he even played in the final.
The incorrect summary was written by artificial intelligence (AI) and is based on a BBC story about Littler winning the tournament semi-final on Thursday.
Littler 5-1 Van Gerwen* (0-0)
A punch of the air towards his camp in the VIP area as Luke Littler finds double 10 again to go 5-1 up in sets.
He's two away from becoming darts' youngest ever world champion.
*Littler 4-1 Van Gerwen (2-2)
Luke Littler misses a set dart and Michael van Gerwen finds double 16.
A huge leg ahead - the difference between 5-1 and 4-2 to Littler.
Littler 4-1 Van Gerwen* (2-1)
Luke Littler within one leg of a four-set lead once again.
Littler 4-1 Van Gerwen
John Part
Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports
The way Littler's playing on his throw in a set with the darts just isn't giving any glimmer of hope to Van Gerwen.
*Littler 4-1 Van Gerwen (1-1)
Back level again in bizarre fashion as Michael van Gerwen misses double nine, then goes single seven and double one to hold throw.
Littler 4-1 Van Gerwen* (1-0)
Sam Drury
BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace
When Luke Littler filled up the treble 20 for a second time, there was a genuine sense of expectation in the arena that the nine-darter was coming.
Not this time but they’re not done yet…
Littler 4-1 Van Gerwen* (1-0)
The answer to my previous question is a big fat "no". The next dart from Luke Littler goes in treble one.
But he wins the opening leg of set six.
Littler 4-1 Van Gerwen (0-0)
Sam Drury
BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace
There are numerous dartboards in the fan village at Ally Pally, giving those in attendance the chance to show what they’re made of.
This is the view from the oche and that treble 20 looks pretty small from here to me…
Meanwhile, Luke Littler has just hit two 180s with his first two visits after the break... nine-darter?
Littler 4-1 Van Gerwen (0-0)
Despite taking part in just two editions of the World Championship, only eight players have hit more ton-plus averages at the World Championship than Luke Littler.
His three-dart average tonight is currently at 99.88.
