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 0-0 Van Gerwen* (0-0)
Sam Drury
BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace
While Luke Littler took his time getting onto the stage, stopping to shake hands with friends and family, Michael van Gerwen is all business and marches straight up.
The atmosphere at Ally Pally is electric. Here we go!
Littler 0-0 Van Gerwen* (0-0)
It's the best of five legs in each set and the best of 13 sets to decide who will be world champion.
Players alternate who will throw first in each set.
Luke Littler to make history as the youngest ever champion? Or a fourth title for Michael van Gerwen?
We're under way!
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I'm a Brit who lives in America. I've managed to get my colleagues into the darts. Let's go Luke Littler.
Anna
I am following the BBC's live reports on the darts while on holiday in Slovakia, and of course rooting for my fellow Warringtonian. Come on Luke!! Incidentally, there was a nice preview of the final on the TV sports news here tonight.
IK, in Hlohovec
Littler v Van Gerwen
Here comes the 17-year-old...
Pitbull's "Greenlight" rings around the Ally Pally as MC John McDonald welcomes Luke Littler.
A few hugs for family and friends, all dressed in "The Nuke's" purple and yellow, as he makes his way to the oche.
And there's a massive cheer from the crowd as he arrives.
A few pantomime boos for Michael van Gerwen as the three-time champion of the world is introduced, but having a banging walk-on tune like "Seven Nation Army" certainly gets a lot of the fans back onside.
Littler v Van Gerwen
Dan Dawson
Commentator on Sky Sports
Michael van Gerwen comes into this as the underdog and he hasn't done that in a world final since his first one against Phil Taylor.
There's respect between them but he's here to win, he's spent the last half a decade watching players he's beaten go on and win world titles while he's marooned on those three wins.
But this is a huge task for him.
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MVG will want to get himself ahead early in tonight's final and heap the pressure on Luke Littler. I don't expect to see too many fist-pumps from MVG towards The Nuke, as we've seen from his other opponents this week. MVG will be out to get under the young prodigy's skin to throw him off his game.
Andrew.
Littler v Van Gerwen
Luke Littler has the edge over Michael van Gerwen when it comes to tournament average and the number of 180s thrown at this year's World Championship.
Meanwhile, Van Gerwen has a slightly higher checkout percentage in the event.
While they give us a guide about how both players have been playing, those stats don't count for too much this evening.
And in the set format, the winner and loser of a match can often be decided by a big score or checkout at a key moment.
The players are ready and about to enter the arena at Alexandra Palace - let's get this thing started!
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We have a winner!
From our earlier question about Luke Littler becoming the seventh player to make back-to-back World Darts Championship finals - here's the correct list of the other six.
Did you get it right?
Phil Taylor, Dennis Priestley, Gary Anderson, Michael Smith, Adrian Lewis, Michael van Gerwen.
Kevin Webber in Newcastle
Littler v Van Gerwen
These two have played 12 times before - it's six wins apiece for Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen has won six of the 11 televised matches they have played.
The Dutchman won the throw for the bull in the practice room, so he will throw first in the opening leg of the match.
It's almost time!
Littler v Van Gerwen
You know it's the big event when you can buy a half-and-half scarf...
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The world darts final has surpassed the FA Cup final in terms of fan engagement - fans at the Palace but also fans all over the UK and the world. Nuts how darts has achieved this in such a short time.
Wayne, Oxfordshire
Littler v Van Gerwen
Sam Drury
BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace
If there was any doubt who this crowd will be supporting, there are loud boos when Michael van Gerwen is shown on the big screens in the arena.
That's followed by huge cheers for Luke Littler and a chorus of "There's only one Luke Littler..."
Littler v Van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen is chasing a fourth world title in his seventh appearance in a PDC World Championship final.
Littler v Van Gerwen
It's two PDC World Championship appearances and two finals for 17-year-old Luke Littler.
Michael van Gerwen is appearing in his seventh world final tonight - he has won three and lost three.
The Dutchman's most recent final appearance was in 2023, when he lost a classic to Michael Smith.
Littler v Van Gerwen
The days of Phil Taylor winning multiple PDC world titles in succession have gone.
In fact, four of the past five winners of the PDC World Darts Championship have been first-time champions.
Peter Wright followed his success in 2020 with victory in 2022, while Gerwyn Price (2021), Michael Smith (2023) and Luke Humphries (2024) got their hands on the trophy for the first - and so far only - time.
Will Luke Littler continue that trend tonight?
Michael van Gerwen's title wins came in 2014, 2017 and 2019.
Littler v Van Gerwen
Here's how Michael van Gerwen made it to his seventh World Championship final.
Like Luke Littler, Van Gerwen was a comfortable winner at the semi-final stage about 24 hours ago.
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Right then, quick quiz for you - this evening, Luke Littler will become the seventh player to play in back-to-back PDC World Championship finals.
Can you name the other six? Let us know via the usual channels...
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Image source, Getty ImagesLittler v Van Gerwen
As James says, Alexandra Palace will be packed full of more than 3,000 fans for tonight's final between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen.
Ever wondered what it's like to be in the crowd for a night at the darts at Ally Pally?
Littler v Van Gerwen
James Gregg
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter at Alexandra Palace
The Palace is set. The gates are open. 3,000+ punters are in and filling this arena with that famous atmosphere that's made this whole thing fizz for over a fortnight.
The whole eyes of the UK and beyond are on this one tonight - let's just hope this fella sorting the board out gets it right...
Littler v Van Gerwen
We're expecting the walk-ons at about 20:15 GMT, so about 25 minutes longer to wait for the start of the final.