Imagine playing THE world champion in a JUNIOR final? Before these past couple of weeks, it would have been thought an impossibility. But not now.

Luke Littler has reached the Junior Darts Association's Super 16 final next month - where he will take on 13-year-old Joseph Westby. But Westby is far from quaking in his boots!

"I’m excited. If he wins tonight, then I get to play the world champion in February – which is a once in a lifetime opportunity for someone my age," Westby told BBC Radio 5 Live's Nihal Arthanayake.

"He’s making a big impact. I think he has single-handedly got a lot people into darts, a lot of young people to pick up some darts, and join an academy and get involved.

"There are a couple of years between me and Luke and by the time I get to his age I want to be somewhere close to his standard. And if I’m anywhere close to that then I’ll be really happy with myself."

As for tonight, who wins? "I reckon they could both score the same as each other, really good scoring, it’ll just come down to finishing. I think it’ll be a really close one, but I think Littler takes it."

Read more from Westby and those close to Littler here.

Image source, Keith Brunt

Luke Littler is fuming with himself. On 112, he miscounts and hits two treble 18s to leave double two.

Long pause as he regathers himself - and it's on the outer wire!

Luke Humphries steps in to finish off double 14 and he's back within striking distance.

Image source, Getty Images

Wayne Mardle
Five-time world championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

That could be the one that breaks the world number one's heart.

A 122 finish - two treble 18s and double seven. Stunning stuff from Luke Littler. Another deciding leg coming up.

Image source, PA Media

Neither player can hold throw!

Luke Littler is inches away from a bullseye finish but is made to pay for some below-par visits in that leg as Luke Humphries lands tops.

What a topsy-turvy set.

But then the next leg Humphries misses three darts at double - and Luke Littler lands his sole chance at double 20.

He'd actually made a mess of the finish by hitting single five first dart but recovered with treble 13. Amazing.

Littler breaks straight back.

Luke Humphries has just lost three successive sets. No matter, shrug it off and land a 170 maximum finish.

That's why he's world number one.

And boy does Luke Littler capitalise on that slice of bad luck for Humphries.

He's been merciless on double eight throughout this final and he sweeps the sixth set to move three sets of the world title. At 16 years of age!

Oh Lady Luck has turned against Luke Humphries.

With two darts in the treble 20, the third looks destined for the same spot - but it deflects one of the other arrows out. Instead of 180, it's just 60.

Image source, Getty Images

The nine-darter falls short with the seventh dart into single 20.

And somehow Luke Littler wins the leg! He almost takes out the big fish of a 170 finish only to narrowly miss the bull.

But he then takes advantage of a poor Humphries visit to finish on double eight.

Luke Littler spoils his copybook slightly by missing three darts at double eight but then nails double four for a break of throw.

And then hits an 180 at the start of the second leg. The boy is flying.

Oh hang on, Luke Humphries is on a nine-darter after six darts...

They are going silly in the streets of St Helens right now, waltzing in the walkways of Warrington.

The Cheshire teenager starts set six with five trebles in his first six darts.

Make that eight in nine. Jaw-dropping.

Trainer Karl Holden coached darts sensation Luke Littler at the St Helens Darts Academy before his rise to fame.

"He's got skill in abundance," Holden says.

Yes, yes, yes, chant the crowd after each of Luke Littler's darts as they all crash into the treble 20 bed.

That opens the door ajar and he bursts through it by taking double eight.

For the first time in the final, the 16-year-old leads in sets. He needs four more for the title.

Image source, PA Media

Luke Littler blocks the double eight bed with an awkward first dart - but Luke Humphries misses two darts at tops to punish him.

And Littler takes out 16 at the fifth attempt. That was one of the scrappiest legs yet in what has been a high-quality final as we just stated.

Ben: Never really watched darts since I was a kid when my dad had it on. Asking a genuine question - as a standard of play (from both players) is this normal for a final? It looks phenomenal!

It's pretty good, Ben! A three-dart average of 100 in a match is generally considered to be a world-class performance - Littler is on that mark and Humphries' average is just a shade under 103.

Luke Humphries responds with an equally dominant hold of throw.

This is going all the way, isn't it?

Luke Littler returns from a couple of minutes' break with an 180 first up. Ridiculous.

He has the darts to start this set. First to seven remember so loads of mileage in this match yet.

Littler takes the opening leg with double eight to nose in front.

Mark Webster
2008 BDO world champion on Sky Sports

I make it a fair score - they are both producing bits of magic. There have been nerves but both have answered questions asked of them.

The rhythm has been good and it's going to continue to be close.

I think a moment of magic will decide it and I'm no closer to knowing who is going to win this.

Image source, PA Media

Anon: People forget what Luke Humphries has gone through to get here - so credit to the other Luke and what a show these two are putting on for the largest ever TV audience for a darts match.

Quite correct - Humphries has spoken openly in recent years about dealing with anxiety, which affected him early in his professional career. It's been some story for him to reach the top too.