Littler reaches third consecutive PDC World Championship final
Luke Littler powered into his third consecutive PDC World Championship final on Friday evening with a commanding 6-1 triumph over Ryan Searle at Alexandra Palace, reports BritPanorama.
The defending champion recovered from dropping the opening set to reel off six straight sets against the 20th seed, producing a masterful display that included an average of 105.35 and ten maximum 180s.
Littler’s victory extended his remarkable unbeaten streak at Ally Pally to 12 matches and maintained his perfect record of reaching the final in every World Championship he has entered.
Littler expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “I’m very happy with tonight – the doubles, the finishing, the high-scoring. Big shout to Ryan, he has done amazing this tournament, he can be proud.”
The teenager believes securing back-to-back world titles would elevate him to the same status as the sport’s all-time greats. He has dominated darts in a manner reminiscent of Phil Taylor’s two-decade reign and Michael van Gerwen’s mid-2010s supremacy.
Speaking following the match, Littler noted, “Obviously in their primes, they were just absolutely unbelievable. I was watching it as a kid. With what I’ve done, I can near enough say I’m playing just as well, with the titles, the averages, the amount of nine-darters on TV. Maybe if I get tomorrow, then I might be on my same level. I’ve got every right to think I can, but I never, ever say I’m going to win it.”
Gian van Veen will face Littler in Saturday’s showpiece after the Dutch rising star claimed his maiden World Championship final berth with a 6-3 victory over Gary Anderson. The contest proved to be a captivating encounter that could have swung either way, with both players averaging above 102 and each hitting a maximum 170 checkout.
Van Veen’s superior finishing ultimately proved decisive against the experienced Scot, who managed more 180s but could not convert when it mattered most. The 23-year-old, now ranked world number three following a breakthrough year, reflected emotionally on his journey to the final.
“I remember three or four years ago I was in Barnsley in the Metrodome and I was struggling with dartitis,” Van Veen shared, revealing the depth of his challenges. “I was crying at the table and look at me four years later. It’s all been worth it.”
Tonight’s final offers Littler the chance to become the first player since Gary Anderson a decade ago to claim consecutive world titles. Victory would also secure the teenager a record £1 million prize, though he asserts that the trophy matters more than the financial reward.
Littler emphasized, “It’s a massive prize, but it’s the trophy on the stage, it’s not the money. Ever since the Grand Slam I have just said I want to go back-to-back.” Van Veen, who won the PDC Youth World Championship in November, stands one victory away from following Dutch legends Raymond van Barneveld and Van Gerwen as world champion.
During periods of Friday’s semi-final, Van Veen produced a standard capable of troubling even the seemingly unstoppable Littler. As anticipation builds for the final, it serves as a compelling reminder of both the artistry and competitive edge inherent in the sport of darts.
