Sam Drury
BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace

All the fancy dress you’d expect from those queuing to get into Alexandra Palace.

Some you wouldn’t expect as well, I’ve just walked past someone who has come as a milk carton...

If Luke Littler wins tonight, he will be getting his hands on the PDC World Championship trophy for the first time.

"I don't think people should touch it if you've not won it," he told the BBC's Natalie Pirks after his semi-final win over Stephen Bunting.

Despite his relatively tender years, Luke Littler has managed to keep his composure amidst the hype.

"It's like water off a duck's back really, the way he just sort of takes it all in his stride," sports psychologist and former women's world number one darts player Dr Linda Duffy told BBC Sport.

"It's almost like he's not really 100% sure of what's going on around him. It's like if he's in that sort of bubble where he's just thinking about what he needs to do, which is fantastic.

"He's certainly very cool, calm and collected under pressure.

"What a lot of people who don't play darts don't understand is how difficult it is to play. You've got all this adrenaline, all the emotions whirling round inside you and you have to stay as steady as a rock to throw that dart properly at the target."

Image source, EPA

Here's how Luke Littler progressed into the World Championship final for the second year in a row.

The teenager was exceptionally emotional after his win over Ryan Meikle in the second round, but he has steadily grown into the tournament and was superb in his semi-final demolition of Stephen Bunting.

Image source, Getty Images

If Luke Littler becomes the youngest ever PDC world champion this evening, he will take the record of the man he is facing in tonight's final.

Michael van Gerwen was 24 years old when he won the first of his three world titles in 2014.

Being the bright young thing in darts was a crown Van Gerwen was wearing not too long ago. Now, aged 35, he is being described as a "veteran".

Doesn't time fly.

Sam Drury
BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace

It was all quiet when I arrived at Ally Pally a little while ago but the atmosphere is building and the stage is set.

The anticipation is palpable.

Image source, PA Media

We want to hear your thoughts on tonight's final and the competition as a whole.

Who's your tip to win and why? What's been your moment of the tournament so far?

Have your say using #bbcdarts on X, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply). Please leave your name on text messages.

The final is the best of 13 sets, so the first to seven will win the title and the £500,000 first prize. The runner-up will take home £200,000.

It's the first to three legs who takes a set.

A deciding set must be won by two clear legs. If the score in the final set reaches 5-5 then a sudden-death leg will be played. There would be no throw for the bull in any sudden-death leg.

• World Championship schedule, results, draw, forrmat

Just this once, we'll forgive you if you're missing the next episode of The Traitors later for this - you can catch up on that on the BBC iPlayer, and we think this should be worth it.

Welcome to live text coverage of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship final.

Image source, PA Media

Standing in Luke Littler's way is Michael van Gerwen, a three-time world champion who is gunning for number four at Alexandra Palace.

He has the experience of six previous world finals to call upon, but it is six years since he last held the Sid Waddell Trophy aloft - far too long for a player of his quality.

To add a bit of extra spice, the Dutchman is currently the youngest winner in the tournament's history - a record that Littler is hoping to take away from him this evening.

Image source, PA Media

Luke Littler, once again, stands on the brink of history.

A year ago to this very day, Littler was beaten 7-4 by world number one Luke Humphries in the 2024 world final. His run to darts' showpiece event as a 16-year-old had captured the imagination of the sporting world and it made Littler a household name that transcended the sport almost overnight.

Now, a couple of weeks before his 18th birthday, Littler is once again just one win away from becoming the youngest ever world darts champion.

Remember, remember, 15 December...

Back then, 96 players had hopes and dreams of winning the 2025 PDC World Championship.

Now only two players remain.