It is perhaps Luke Littler's fearless approach which has allowed him to defy
the odds.
Demonstrating ice-cool
composure belying his age and experience on one of his sport's biggest stages,
he completed victory over Rob Cross with minimal fuss as he hit a concluding double
10 with awe-inspiring disregard for the magnitude of the occasion.
It was the fourth match of
the tournament in which Littler, with only four senior matches at PDC premier
events prior to the tournament, has averaged more than 100.
His level did not
waver as the match reached its crescendo either, taking three consecutive sets
to seal victory in style.
His secret? "Just got to
stay focused, just got to be Luke Littler, and just relax," he said after
his semi-final.
"I stick to the routine
that I've always been doing and whatever Luke Littler turns up, turns up. So
far it's been good in this tournament."
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Darts newbie? Here's all you need
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
It's not every year the final of the PDC World Darts Championship becomes such a talked-about moment outside of the sport.
But 16-year-old British sensation Luke Littler has taken darts and UK social media by storm, with a fairytale run which has seen him become the youngest finalist in the tournament's history.
You might be one of those planning to watch him take on world number one Luke Humphries in the final and seeing what all the fuss is about for the first time.
So if you don't know your bed from your bail-out, your bust from a champagne finish or your leg from a set - fear not, we've got you covered with the BBC's newbies' guide to darts.
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
First to seven sets takes title
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
In that original meeting in Hampshire the prize money was £250.
The winner of tonight's World Championship final will receive £500,000.
The final is decided over the best-of-13 sets, first to seven. You need to win three legs to win a set.
Littler was 'scarily good' even at 12 - Humphries
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
Luke Humphries has said teenage sensation Luke Littler was "scarily good" when he was just 12 years old.
The two meet with the PDC world title on the line tonight - but they first played each other in a competition on Hayling Island in 2019.
A social media post, which Littler uploaded after losing to Humphries in the quarter-final, has resurfaced and been viewed thousands of times online.
Speaking ahead of their rematch, Humphries said of his opponent: "I remember knowing that when you're a 12-year-old playing that good there is some talent there.
"He has shown that he is the real deal and regardless of what happens he has got a bright future."
On tonight's opponent, 16-year-old Luke Littler, world number one Luke Humphries said he was in awe of the way the teenager had coped with darts' biggest stage, the Alexandra Palace.
"I've seen the way he's played many, many times but when you come on this stage it can be a lot tougher but he's just proved that he's got a lot of bottle," Humphries said.
"Nothing is going to faze him. I'm probably going to have to play the game of my life.
"I've got an uphill task and hopefully we can give the people one of the best world finals ever seen."
Littler gets support from beloved Red Devils
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
Tuesday's peak viewing figures for Luke Littler's semi-final are, for comparison, in line with Sky's live coverage of Premier League football.
Indeed, Premier League footballers are among those engrossed in Luke Littler's story, with the teenager closing in on 500,000 Instagram followers and 100,000 on X.
"Obviously I've got a lot of followers now, I've had a message off Luke Shaw of Manchester United, Rio Ferdinand and I had a message off Gary Neville and Jonny Evans before my game against Barney [Raymond van Barneveld], so it's just crazy," said Littler.
"People I've looked up to, and especially my club Manchester United, are wishing me luck."
Video content
Video caption: Luke Littler on Manchester United's messages of supportLuke Littler on Manchester United's messages of support
'Couldn't be a bigger accomplishment'
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
John Part
Three-time world darts champion on Sky Sports
Who you play can make the win even better – and that’s the
case for Luke Littler tonight, he's playing the best player in the world over the past year so it couldn’t be a bigger accomplishment if he does win.
Watch: 'The Ronaldo of darts'
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
Ahead of Wednesday's final, the BBC spoke to some of his friends at a pub in St Helens.
Fair to say they're big fans...
Video content
Video caption: Luke Littler's local pub goers on darts teen's run to finalLuke Littler's local pub goers on darts teen's run to final
'Special feeling to be world number one'
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Luke Humphries has won 18 games in a row to charge to the top of the world rankings - with his semi-final victory over Scott Williams pushing 'Cool Hand' to the summit.
The 28-year-old has reached three quarter-finals at the World Championship, but he had never averaged more than 100 at this tournament until his quarter-final.
He averaged 108.74 against Williams, 33, which is in the top 10 in the history of the tournament, and took out scores of 100-plus on six occasions.
"It feels amazing. I would never have imagined myself to be the world number one, that is a special, special feeling," Humphries told Sky Sports.
"To do it in style too, I was really pleased with that performance. But like I've said in many interviews, world number one can last a couple of months, world champion is forever."
Humphries hitting form at right time
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport
World Championships are supposed to get harder the further
you progress – but it’s proving the opposite for new world number one Luke
Humphries.
Having survived nail-biting deciding sets against Ricardo
Pietreczko and Joe Cullen, he’s found new gears and then some.
Tuesday’s 6-0 semi-final thrashing of Michael van Gerwen’s shock
conqueror Scott Williams was a statement result and gives him massive momentum
going into tonight’s final.
‘A free hit – I have nothing to lose’
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Luke Littler has shown precious few signs of
feeling any pressure during his fairytale run to the final – and he says he
feels like he’s playing with the house’s money.
"It's just unbelievable," Littler said.
"Unbelievable to even think I'm in the final. I wanted to just win a game
and come back after Christmas and I'm still standing.
"In this World Championship I've got nothing to
lose. It's just a free hit for myself.
"There's no pressure. It's my first time being
here and I'm still here, so I just take it in my stride and take it game by
game."
The remarkable rise of Luke Littler
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
From throwing his first darts as a toddler through to lifting this year's PDC World Youth Championship and being one match away from claiming the senior title too, Luke Littler's story is a remarkable one.
He's become a social media sensation almost overnight, received messages from some of the country's top footballers, but remains down to earth with a love for kebabs, pizzas and fizzy drinks.
In his six matches so far, Luke Littler has dropped just SIX sets – vanquishing his opposition by a combined set aggregate of 25-6.
Even 16-time champion Phil Taylor in his pomp was rarely
brushing aside his competition with such ease.
World champs Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross were no
match for the 16-year-old – but surely newly-anointed world number one Luke
Humphries will be a different kettle of fish?
BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport
'Best story to come out of this sport'
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
Mark Webster
2008 BDO world champion on Sky Sports
It’s an incredible story – we did not expect this.
The way Luke Littler has dealt with everything, he’s a kid - but he’s a
kid that’s enjoying himself.
It’s the best story that has ever come out of this sport. We were expecting him to make impact - but this impact? It's out of this world.
Watch: Where it all began
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
You probably know the story by now.
While most toddlers chuck their rattles out of the pram, Luke Littler was chucking arrows.
He began playing darts on a magnetic board when he was
just 18 months old.
Video content
Video caption: Luke Littler plays darts as a toddler in home video footageLuke Littler plays darts as a toddler in home video footage
Records tumbling on and off oche
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
At just 16, it will come as little surprise that Luke
Littler is the youngest player ever to reach the PDC World Championship final.
He has overtaken Kirk Shepherd -
who was 21 years and 88 days old when he lost the 2008 final to John Part.
But Littler’s heroics are setting TV
records too - his semi-final set a Sky tournament
viewing record, with a peak audience of 2.32m, easily surpassing the 2015
final (1.65m) between Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor.
And that figure will surely be beaten again
tonight with what is anticipated to be the
most-watched final in the PDC tournament’s 31-year history.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Luke out - it's final time
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
The world youth champion against the world number one.
The final none of us expected - but the final it seems the whole country is going darts-mad for.
The 16-year-old rookie against the best player in the world in 2023.
Luke Littler vs Luke Humphries for all the marbles - and the small matter of a £500,000 winners' cheque - at the Alexandra Palace. This should be a belter.
Live Reporting
Michael Beardmore
All times stated are UK
'Stick to the routine'
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
It is perhaps Luke Littler's fearless approach which has allowed him to defy the odds.
Demonstrating ice-cool composure belying his age and experience on one of his sport's biggest stages, he completed victory over Rob Cross with minimal fuss as he hit a concluding double 10 with awe-inspiring disregard for the magnitude of the occasion.
It was the fourth match of the tournament in which Littler, with only four senior matches at PDC premier events prior to the tournament, has averaged more than 100.
His level did not waver as the match reached its crescendo either, taking three consecutive sets to seal victory in style.
His secret? "Just got to stay focused, just got to be Luke Littler, and just relax," he said after his semi-final.
"I stick to the routine that I've always been doing and whatever Luke Littler turns up, turns up. So far it's been good in this tournament."
Darts newbie? Here's all you need
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
It's not every year the final of the PDC World Darts Championship becomes such a talked-about moment outside of the sport.
But 16-year-old British sensation Luke Littler has taken darts and UK social media by storm, with a fairytale run which has seen him become the youngest finalist in the tournament's history.
You might be one of those planning to watch him take on world number one Luke Humphries in the final and seeing what all the fuss is about for the first time.
So if you don't know your bed from your bail-out, your bust from a champagne finish or your leg from a set - fear not, we've got you covered with the BBC's newbies' guide to darts.
First to seven sets takes title
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
In that original meeting in Hampshire the prize money was £250.
The winner of tonight's World Championship final will receive £500,000.
The final is decided over the best-of-13 sets, first to seven. You need to win three legs to win a set.
Littler was 'scarily good' even at 12 - Humphries
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
Luke Humphries has said teenage sensation Luke Littler was "scarily good" when he was just 12 years old.
The two meet with the PDC world title on the line tonight - but they first played each other in a competition on Hayling Island in 2019.
A social media post, which Littler uploaded after losing to Humphries in the quarter-final, has resurfaced and been viewed thousands of times online.
Speaking ahead of their rematch, Humphries said of his opponent: "I remember knowing that when you're a 12-year-old playing that good there is some talent there.
"He has shown that he is the real deal and regardless of what happens he has got a bright future."
'Nothing is going to faze him'
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
On tonight's opponent, 16-year-old Luke Littler, world number one Luke Humphries said he was in awe of the way the teenager had coped with darts' biggest stage, the Alexandra Palace.
"I've seen the way he's played many, many times but when you come on this stage it can be a lot tougher but he's just proved that he's got a lot of bottle," Humphries said.
"Nothing is going to faze him. I'm probably going to have to play the game of my life.
"I've got an uphill task and hopefully we can give the people one of the best world finals ever seen."
Littler gets support from beloved Red Devils
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
Tuesday's peak viewing figures for Luke Littler's semi-final are, for comparison, in line with Sky's live coverage of Premier League football.
Indeed, Premier League footballers are among those engrossed in Luke Littler's story, with the teenager closing in on 500,000 Instagram followers and 100,000 on X.
"Obviously I've got a lot of followers now, I've had a message off Luke Shaw of Manchester United, Rio Ferdinand and I had a message off Gary Neville and Jonny Evans before my game against Barney [Raymond van Barneveld], so it's just crazy," said Littler.
"People I've looked up to, and especially my club Manchester United, are wishing me luck."
Video content
'Couldn't be a bigger accomplishment'
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
John Part
Three-time world darts champion on Sky Sports
Who you play can make the win even better – and that’s the case for Luke Littler tonight, he's playing the best player in the world over the past year so it couldn’t be a bigger accomplishment if he does win.
Watch: 'The Ronaldo of darts'
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
Ahead of Wednesday's final, the BBC spoke to some of his friends at a pub in St Helens.
Fair to say they're big fans...
Video content
'Special feeling to be world number one'
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
Luke Humphries has won 18 games in a row to charge to the top of the world rankings - with his semi-final victory over Scott Williams pushing 'Cool Hand' to the summit.
The 28-year-old has reached three quarter-finals at the World Championship, but he had never averaged more than 100 at this tournament until his quarter-final.
He averaged 108.74 against Williams, 33, which is in the top 10 in the history of the tournament, and took out scores of 100-plus on six occasions.
"It feels amazing. I would never have imagined myself to be the world number one, that is a special, special feeling," Humphries told Sky Sports.
"To do it in style too, I was really pleased with that performance. But like I've said in many interviews, world number one can last a couple of months, world champion is forever."
Humphries hitting form at right time
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
World Championships are supposed to get harder the further you progress – but it’s proving the opposite for new world number one Luke Humphries.
Having survived nail-biting deciding sets against Ricardo Pietreczko and Joe Cullen, he’s found new gears and then some.
Tuesday’s 6-0 semi-final thrashing of Michael van Gerwen’s shock conqueror Scott Williams was a statement result and gives him massive momentum going into tonight’s final.
‘A free hit – I have nothing to lose’
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
Luke Littler has shown precious few signs of feeling any pressure during his fairytale run to the final – and he says he feels like he’s playing with the house’s money.
"It's just unbelievable," Littler said. "Unbelievable to even think I'm in the final. I wanted to just win a game and come back after Christmas and I'm still standing.
"In this World Championship I've got nothing to lose. It's just a free hit for myself.
"There's no pressure. It's my first time being here and I'm still here, so I just take it in my stride and take it game by game."
The remarkable rise of Luke Littler
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
From throwing his first darts as a toddler through to lifting this year's PDC World Youth Championship and being one match away from claiming the senior title too, Luke Littler's story is a remarkable one.
He's become a social media sensation almost overnight, received messages from some of the country's top footballers, but remains down to earth with a love for kebabs, pizzas and fizzy drinks.
Check out BBC Sport's profile of darts' new superstar.
Littler's march to the final
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
In his six matches so far, Luke Littler has dropped just SIX sets – vanquishing his opposition by a combined set aggregate of 25-6.
Even 16-time champion Phil Taylor in his pomp was rarely brushing aside his competition with such ease.
World champs Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross were no match for the 16-year-old – but surely newly-anointed world number one Luke Humphries will be a different kettle of fish?
'Best story to come out of this sport'
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
Mark Webster
2008 BDO world champion on Sky Sports
It’s an incredible story – we did not expect this.
The way Luke Littler has dealt with everything, he’s a kid - but he’s a kid that’s enjoying himself.
It’s the best story that has ever come out of this sport. We were expecting him to make impact - but this impact? It's out of this world.
Watch: Where it all began
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
You probably know the story by now.
While most toddlers chuck their rattles out of the pram, Luke Littler was chucking arrows.
He began playing darts on a magnetic board when he was just 18 months old.
Video content
Records tumbling on and off oche
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
At just 16, it will come as little surprise that Luke Littler is the youngest player ever to reach the PDC World Championship final.
He has overtaken Kirk Shepherd - who was 21 years and 88 days old when he lost the 2008 final to John Part.
But Littler’s heroics are setting TV records too - his semi-final set a Sky tournament viewing record, with a peak audience of 2.32m, easily surpassing the 2015 final (1.65m) between Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor.
And that figure will surely be beaten again tonight with what is anticipated to be the most-watched final in the PDC tournament’s 31-year history.
Luke out - it's final time
Littler v Humphries (20:15 GMT)
The world youth champion against the world number one.
The final none of us expected - but the final it seems the whole country is going darts-mad for.
The 16-year-old rookie against the best player in the world in 2023.
Luke Littler vs Luke Humphries for all the marbles - and the small matter of a £500,000 winners' cheque - at the Alexandra Palace. This should be a belter.