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Jonathan Liew<\/p>\n
The winning moment seemed to drain all the strength from his body. He leaned against the drinks table and let it take all his weight, clasped his face in his hands, cried a little. As if only just feeling the shape and hue of the unspeakable thing he had just done. As if some great act of violence had just left his hands. Perhaps it had.<\/p>\n
And before the double world champion, before the social media phenomenon, before the commercial giant, before the global icon, there was Luke Littler<\/a> the darts obsessive. A kid steeped and stewed in the heritage of the game, fully aware of the landmarks he is now chasing, the tapestry of greatness into which he is now indelibly woven.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n More from Luke Littler<\/p>\n [On the emerging rivalry with Van Veen] We\u2019re always gonna have battles \u2013 on the pro tour, Euro tour, majors \u2013 and who knows, we might be back here in the final next year.<\/p>\n My family and friends have supported me all the way. This is why we\u2019re here, and it\u2019s not stopping anytime soon. We\u2019re still on this rollercoaster.<\/p>\n The crowd are back on my side, I\u2019m world champion and there\u2019s nothing more I can say. Thank you!<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Gian van Veen’s reaction<\/p>\n The scoring maybe wasn\u2019t my best game of the tournament. In the last two games I took out all my chances; tonight I didn\u2019t. But yeah, Luke wasn\u2019t in the mood to give me any more chances. He played phenomenally; he put me under pressure every leg. He\u2019s a fantastic player, that\u2019s why he\u2019s world No1 \u2013 by a margin now.<\/p>\n I would\u2019ve liked to lift the title today, I would\u2019ve liked to give Luke a game. I\u2019m very proud to have reached the final, No3 in the world now and Dutch No1, but obviously I\u2019m disappointed.<\/p>\n I wanted to play well today. I played okay but I missed too many chances. Hopefully 2026 will be a fantastic year. The young boys are here \u2013 Luke, Josh Rock, Wessel Nijman, even Luke Humphries is still young. This game is for the young players now and we\u2019re here to show how it\u2019s done.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.57 EST<\/p>\n \u201cGian\u2019s average would\u2019ve won three finals since 2015,\u201d says Max Williams. \u201cAnd he\u2019s had the most one sided beating since 2009. Crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n It feels a bit like Phil Taylor beating John Part 7-0 in 2001. I\u2019d back Van Veen to get revenge one day, just as Part did. But he\u2019ll need some serious mental strength when they next meet in a world final.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n More from Luke Littler<\/p>\n I wasn\u2019t happy going into the break 1-0 down, but I started playing a bit better* from there. I said to myself: give it time, you\u2019ll find it, and it all went to plan. But Gian \u2013 what a tournament, he can be very happy with himself. In every set he was there, he was behind me and I had to take my chances.<\/p>\n I was getting closer and closer but I couldn\u2019t think about the trophy, even though it\u2019s right next to you on stage. I had to keep going\u2026 and I\u2019ve done it.<\/p>\n I say it every year: someone has to put a wasp in here. They don\u2019t just come out of nowhere; no chance!<\/p>\n [On become the first man to win \u00a31m in a single world championship] It\u2019s life-changing for everyone, with the prize money doubled from round one. And it has increased the gap to Luke Humphries, so I’m clear at No1.<\/p>\n [What will be your first purchase?] Ah, I dunno. I can\u2019t change car just yet!<\/p>\n * A bit!!!<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Luke Littler’s reaction<\/p>\n It feels amazing. I\u2019ve got to say thank you to John McDonald [MC] and George Noble [referee]; what a fantastic career they\u2019ve had. Russ Bray retired in my first year and now these two legends have retired. I\u2019m a bit late to the party!<\/p>\n Everyone knows what happened with Anthony Joshua and his team. Rest in peace to his friends. But just like AJ said: The first time was so nice\/I had to do it twice.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cYou keep saying van Veen isn\u2019t playing badly, but he is,\u201d says Chris. \u201cIt was evident even back in the first set \u2026 relying on 100+ finishes is never going to last. Although not a fan of 3DA as a metric the fact the GVV is barely at 100 is indicative of how much he is struggling tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n I would politely disagree with that. I guess I\u2019d argue he was relying on 100+ finishes because Littler was beasting treble 20 all the time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.42 EST<\/p>\n Sir Chris Hoy brings the Sid Waddell trophy on stage and presents to to Luke Littler<\/a>, who cavorts round the stage with what is fast becoming his property. That was mind-alteringly good, the kind of merciless performance Phil Taylor used to serve up as his irresistible peak. But Taylor was a grizzled, gnarled fortysomething, not a teenager.<\/p>\n Littler shows the trophy to the crowd. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianKissing his silverware. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.10 EST<\/p>\n \u201cBjorn Borg\u2019s first serve, the Germans\u2019 fifth penalty and Littler\u2019s third dart eh?\u201d coos Gary Naylor.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Littler leans on his table, hands over his face, trying to process that he is a back-to-back world champion at the age of 18. Van Veen, behind his back, points to Littler and applauds. He has taken some horrible medicine with a lot of class.<\/p>\n Van Veen finishes with an average of 99.94, which covers cricket as well as snooker. Littler\u2019s stats are awesome:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.38 EST<\/p>\n Luke Littler thrashes Gian van Veen 7-1!<\/p>\n Hahahaha, what an utter, utter genius. Not content with redefining darts, Littler borrows from snooker by winning the match with a 147 finish. That was, quite simply, one of the greatest performances in the history of darts.<\/p>\n Luke Littler celebrates victory after defeating Gian van Veen. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianLittler crumples with joy. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.54 EST<\/p>\n Eighth set: *Littler (6) 2-1 (1) Van Veen Littler is almost doing what he wants. He almost takes out 150, wiring D15, but returns to move within one leg of a devastating victory.<\/p>\n It sounds ridiculous but Gian van Veen started too well. He poked the bear by winning four legs in a row to go 2-0 up in set two; he has only won three legs since.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Eighth set: *Littler (6) 1-1 (1) Van Veen Van Veen smiles wryly after winning a rare leg, his third in the last 22.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.32 EST<\/p>\n Eighth set: Littler (6) 1-0 (1) Van Veen* Littler starts the eighth and final set with a 180, because why on earth wouldn\u2019t you? Van Veen hits a 180 of his own to leave 8. No matter: Littler hits D3 to hold throw.<\/p>\n Van Veen\u2019s body language isn\u2019t the best, understandably, but he is still throwing very well.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAm following along from Sydney where I\u2019m having the most Australian brekkie of flat-white-and-avo-on-toast before heading to the cricket,\u201d writes Emma John. \u201cLuke, Lando\u2026 do all British world champions have to be named after Star Wars characters this year? Is it a movie tie-in?\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019ll believe it when Oleksandr Usyk loses his world boxing crown to Nottinghamshire heavyweight Obi-Wan Johnson.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Littler wins the seventh set 3-0!<\/p>\n Littler 6-1 Van Veen So anyway: Van Veen starts the leg, on his own throw, with six perfect darts \u2013 and Littler still wins it. He has won, I think, 18 of the last 20 legs. That\u2019s despite Van Veen lifting his match average to 101 in that time. It\u2019s obscene and entirely preposterous.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Seventh set: Littler (5) 2-0 (1) Van Veen* Van Veen is still throwing some excellent darts despite everything. He misses a dart at double for his fifth ton-plus finish of the match; you know the rest.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Seventh set: *Littler (5) 1-0 (1) Van Veen The claret-stained board is changed at end of the set. Littler assaults the replacement board with the same utter bloody genius, breaking throw once more on D10. Van Veen\u2019s head has gone now, and who can blame him after walking into this. Littler\u2019s performance has been chillingly good.<\/p>\n The stage manager replaces the match board after it gets a spot of blood on it. Photograph: Warren Little\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.24 EST<\/p>\n Littler wins the sixth set 3-0!<\/p>\n Littler 5-1 Van Veen This match is all over bar the shouting. As we thought at the time, Van Veen poked the bear by taking the first set and going 2-0 up in the second.<\/p>\n \u201cA commentator on Talksport has asked, perhaps rhetorically, what can Van Veen do?\u201d says Ian Copestake. \u201cJust do good darts, I guess. Always. It\u2019s not as if he can just go into a low block and counter.\u201d<\/p>\n Gian Van Veen looks frustrated. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.20 EST<\/p>\n Sixth set: *Littler (4) 2-0 (1) Van Veen After Littler misses the bull for a break, Van Veen misses two at D16 for a hold. Littler has broken his will \u2013 and he\u2019s just broken his throw again, this time on double five.<\/p>\n This is astonishing stuff from Littler. Van Veen isn\u2019t playing badly at all, yet Littler has won 14 of the last 16 legs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Van Veen has cut his hand and there\u2019s a splash of blood on the board in single 5.<\/p>\n A splash of blood on the board. Photograph: Warren Little\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.29 EST<\/p>\n Sixth set: Littler (4) 1-0 (1) Van Veen* \u201cGian has to outscore his opponent more often,\u201d says John Part on commentary at the precise moment Littler bangs in his second consecutive 180 at the start of the sixth set.<\/p>\n Littler can\u2019t hit a nine-darter, or even a 12. But Van Veen \u2013 who hit an almost solemn 180 earlier in the leg \u2013 misses two at D15 for a break. The punishment is inevitable.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Match averages after five sets<\/p>\n Littler 107.06 (43.75%)<\/p>\n Van Veen 100.27 (50%)<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Littler wins the fifth set 3-1!<\/p>\n Littler 4-1 Van Veen There\u2019s a scintilla of hope for Van Veen, maybe even a soup\u00e7on, when Littler addresses D5 with his last dart. And like that. it\u2019s gone: Littler hits D5 and wraps up the fifth set with minimal fuss. He has won 12 of the last 14 legs and looks as near unbeatable as dammit.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a wasp streaking in the darts!\u201d roflcopters Ian Copestake.<\/p>\n A wasp approaches Luke Littler, who swats it away. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.15 EST<\/p>\n Fifth set: *Littler (3) 2-1 (1) Van Veen Van Veen started the game beautifully but has been knocked off course by that blistering surge from Littler. And now he\u2019s in big trouble: Littler hits D10 to break throw, after which Van Veen stabs his darts into his table in frustration.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Fifth set: Littler (3) 1-1 (1) Van Veen* An affronted Littler starts with a 180, then has to delay his third visit after an impromptu dance with the Ally Pally wasp.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a tight leg, both men on 54 after 12 darts. Littler gets it done in 14.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Fifth set: *Littler (3) 0-1 (1) Van Veen Littler dominates the leg on the Van Veen throw. He misses bull for a 122\u2026 and Van Veen hits tops-tops for a 137. My word that is some finish, under the most intense pressure.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cJuggernaut\u201d is the subject of Phil Sawyer\u2019s email.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t help feeling Littler is ramping up now. Maybe the next few years will be everyone else trying to pick up the crumbs after all.<\/p>\n Also, all the very best to Chris Allison, enjoy those cocktails.<\/p>\n That\u2019s what I should have said!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.00 EST<\/p>\n Littler averaged 115.68 in the third set and has a match average of 106.85 to Van Veen\u2019s 99.98. Van Veen has the darts in the fifth set and surely has to hold throw. You can\u2019t go two breaks down to Littler \u2013 not even in set play, not even when it\u2019s best of 13.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Littler wins the fourth set 3-0!<\/p>\n Littler 3-1 Van Veen Littler wires D12 for a 138 finish. Van Veen leaves 100 after his next visit; Littler misses two at D6 before hitting it last dart. Fifteen minutes ago Littler was about to go 2-0 down; now he\u2019s 3-1 up.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.08 EST<\/p>\n Fourth set: *Littler (2) 2-0 (1) Van Veen Van Veen needs a break \u2013 a break in play, that is, because all the breaks of throw are coming from Littler right now. He makes it eight legs from the last nine, this time against the darts.<\/p>\n Since going 2-0 down in the second set, having lost the first, Littler has reached a frightening standard.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.56 EST<\/p>\n Fourth set: Littler (2) 1-0 (1) Van Veen* Littler is pummelling Van Veen all over the oche. Another majestic leg (11 darts? 12? I have no idea) puts him ahead in the fourth set. He\u2019s won seven of the last eight legs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Littler hits 170 to win the third set 3-1!<\/p>\n Sensational stuff! Littler doesn\u2019t need to go for the bull on 170, with Van Veen in the 250s, but since when did that matter? Littler plays the showman card, hits the bull and pulls out the old fishing celebration.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Littler breaks in 11 darts!<\/p>\n Third set: *Littler (1) 2-1 (1) Van Veen This is getting silly. Van Veen can\u2019t hit the bull for a 126 finish; Littler makes him pay by taking out 81 in two darts. As we expected, Littler \u2013 who has cruised through the tournament – is having no trouble finding extra gears when needed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.51 EST<\/p>\n Third set: Littler (1) 1-1 (1) Van Veen* The pace is ridiculous, the standard even higher. Littler holds throw with a 112 finish, knowing Van Veen is lurking on 149. That\u2019s the fifth ton-plus finish in 12 legs: Littler 2-3 Van Veen.<\/p>\n