To think Luke Littler’s journey towards darting domination all started when his father, Anthony, bought his 18-month-old son a magnetic board for the princely sum of £1.
Now 18 years old, it was with one final flick of the fingers here that he nailed a 147 finish, was crowned world champion for the second successive time at Alexandra Palace, and claimed the first-ever £1million jackpot dangled in darts.
The blood stain on the board, caused by a cut to the hand of his vanquished 23-year-old opponent Gian van Veen, was a fitting image for this final. It turned into a magnificent mauling, with Littler supremely savage from the moment he lost the opening set.
That only seemed to anger the teenager. From then on, he was at his unforgiving best, triumphing 7-1 and averaging 106.02 in what was the youngest final in World Darts Championship history.
With that, Littler joins an exclusive ensemble of names to have won this title more than once. Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, John Part, Adrian Lewis and Peter Wright – he is already keeping talented company and only just getting started.
It may be that, in time, Littler versus Van Veen becomes one of the game’s great rivalries. They will spend the coming years, decades even, competing with one another.
Luke Littler claimed the World Darts Championship for the second year running by thrashing Gian van Veen 7-1 in the final
The 18-year-old from Warrington takes home a £1millon prize after his victory
Littler poses on stage with his beautician girlfriend Faith Millar, who he met last year
But not even the Ally Pally wasp was able to help Van Veen here, the flying friend of the Palace interrupting Littler as he was shaping to throw midway through this match.
Speaking afterwards, Littler paid tribute to Anthony Johnson after the car crash in Nigeria which killed two of his friends, and borrowed his words to say: ‘Just like AJ said, the first time was so nice I had to do it twice.’ How many more will follow? How many more does he fancy?
Littler is a remarkable competitor, only 18, and really it is up to him where he goes from here.
It was barely two years ago when Littler and Van Veen were facing one another in the World Youth Championship final at Butlin’s Minehead. Littler won 6-4 with a 102.16 average.
Most folks will not have known who he was then, though the anonymity did not last long. They knew his name by the next month. As the 16-year-old debutant at the World Darts Championship. As the 150-1 outsider celebrating each win en route to the final with a takeaway kebab. As the talented teenager who had kids asking parents if they could stay up to watch him play.
As we now know, that was the start of something special, for Littler has been an Ally Pally finalist ever since. In 2024, he lost to Luke Humphries aged 16. In 2025, he beat Van Gerwen aged 17.
Now in 2026, here was a much more serious showdown with Van Veen, a shy 23-year-old self-doubter who was nearly forced out of the game a few years back because of dartitis.
Whatever insecurities he may have suffered from previously, he deserved his place in this final, and knew, if he brought his best, he might topple Littler.
He posed with his trophy in front of the crowd, with whom he has had a mixed relationship
His girlfriend Faith Millar looked emotional after Littler solidified his world No 1 status
His Dutch rival Gian van Veen did not reach the levels he had set throughout the tournament
Littler had to contend with the reappearance of the Ally Pally wasp in a dramatic final
Streamer Angry Ginge – who won I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! – supported Littler
Littler and Van Veen shared a hug after their clash – many more may come in the future
Locked at 2-2 in the opening set, Van Veen needed 170 to take the lead. He nailed one treble 20, then two, but not the bullseye for the Big Fish. Littler squandering his doubles gave Van Veen the chance to capitalise, and he did so to lead 1-0.
Littler looked angry while trailing in the second set, channelling that fury to come back with his first ton-plus finish of the final at 116 levelling up the match at 1-1. It was precisely the competitive start that those inside of Ally Pally had hoped to see, though it did not remain a contest for long.
When a 170 finish saw Littler lead 2-1, the Englishman celebrating by pretending to reel in that Big Fish. Van Veen’s body language had turned negative. The Dutchman has spoken openly of finding it hard to get out of his own head on the oche. It was not that he was playing poorly. He was averaging a little more than 100. It was that Littler had taken it up to that next level.
While losing the fourth set, Van Veen continued muttering to himself as he approached the board to retrieve whichever darts had not landed to his liking. While losing the fifth, someone decided Van Veen needed a little help. Littler was in the zone and taking aim when he was interrupted by a stage invader. It was not a drunken reveller, but rather the Ally Pally wasp. It broke Littler’s stride only briefly as the reigning world champion returned to lead 4-1.
Littler’s averages here had been the work of a casual genius – 107.09 in whitewashing Mensur Suljovic, 106.58 in beating Rob Cross, 105.35 while trouncing Ryan Searle. Van Veen had recorded the highest of this tournament – 108.28 in his second-round victory over Alan Soutar – but he was being dominated. Van Veen cut his hand during the sixth set, and while yanking his arrows out of the board, he accidentally left a blood stain in the five bed.
That forced a change of board from PDC officials, but did not alter the direction of a final which carried the feel of an exhibition by the end. Littler looked practically sorry for Van Veen when he made a mess of one attempt at a finish, wincing on his behalf, then relentlessly made it 6-1.
Needing 147, Littler nailed it, taking home his second world title with double 15 and, of course, £1m.
