Luke Littler after becoming world champion. (Image: PDC)
Luke Littler could only burst into tears after defeating Michael van Gerwen to become the youngest-ever world darts champion.
The 17-year-old demolished his three-time world champion opponent 7-3 in a ruthless performance, able to keep his emotions in check to finish in style with zero nerves on show, before letting those feelings out once he checked out for the final time.
He immediately went over to Van Gerwen and gave the runner-up a big hug and embrace, before praising the Dutchman after an epic final.
Littler grabbed his head in celebration and looked to the floor, almost in disbelief, before raising back up in celebration to the Alexandra Palace crowd with tears in his eyes.
He was not the only one, with the TV cameras panning to the Littler family also crying as they celebrated the teenager’s incredible performance.
“I can’t believe it! Honestly, I can’t believe it,” Littler told Sky Sports. “We both played so well. I said in my interviews, I needed to get off to a quick start and that’s what I did.
Luke Littler celebrating becoming world champion. (Image: Getty)
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“Michael was behind me the whole game. Those cover shots, when he would hit two trebles and I had to come back with two or three, he was right behind me the whole way through. Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy but you have to get through a tough field.
“I was practicing back stage on the tops and 10s (D10). At 2-0 up I started getting nervous but I said to myself ‘just relax’. I was throwing for the match but to get it over and done with was special.”
‘The Nuke’ also revealed that he had watched the entirety of his 2024 final defeat to Luke Humphries earlier in the day, in preparation to go one step further a year later.
And Van Gerwen was gracious in defeat, commending an emotional Littler who continued to fight back the tears while holding the Sid Waddell Trophy.
“Every moment he got to hurt me, he did,” Van Gerwen said. “I sometimes say every 17 years a star gets born and he’s one of them.
“Don’t get me wrong I had a lovely tournament. I’ve been battling my own game but that’s how it was. You have to take it on the chin and take it as a champion. It hurts but that’s how it should be. It is what it is.”
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