Littler Secures Second World Darts Crown

Teenage darts prodigy Luke Littler clinched his second consecutive world championship with an emphatic win over Dutch player Gian van Veen at Alexandra Palace in London on Saturday.

Littler became a household name in England after his surprising run to the final as a 16-year-old two years ago and has since established himself as a dominant force in the game.

“The first time was so nice, I had to do it twice,” said the 18-year-old.

The world’s top-ranked player recovered quickly after losing the opening set to secure a 7-1 victory and take home the unprecedented prize of £1 million ($1.3 million) awarded to the winner.

Littler faced minimal challenges throughout the event at the oche but had to navigate a tense relationship with the crowd at the annual, alcohol-fueled darts festival.

“You guys pay for the tickets and you pay for my prize money so thank you, thank you for my money! Thank you for booing me,” Littler snapped after his last-16 clash against former world champion Rob Cross.

The weight of expectation appeared to affect Littler as he broke down in tears during his victory celebration, mere moments after sealing the title with a stunning 147 finish.

At just 23, Van Veen is another emerging talent in the sport, yet even the European champion struggled to match Littler’s impressive precision.

The English player produced 16 maximum scores of 180, averaging over 106 with three darts.

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