Luke Littler produced a masterclass at Alexandra Palace to retain his PDC World Championship title, dismantling Gian van Veen 7-1 in a one-sided final. The 18-year-old from Warrington becomes just the fourth player in history to win back-to-back world titles, joining Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson in an elite group.
A Final to Forget for Van Veen
The Dutch youngster had captured hearts throughout the tournament, notably dumping out defending champion and world number one Luke Humphries in the quarter-finals. But he found himself overwhelmed by Littler’s relentless scoring and clinical finishing.
Van Veen actually took the opening set 3-2, giving the packed Ally Pally crowd hope of a genuine contest. Both players averaged over 110 in the second set in a sensational display, with the Dutchman taking out incredible 127 and 145 checkouts. It was as good as it got for ‘The Giant’.
From there, Littler was unstoppable. He reeled off seven consecutive sets, barely giving Van Veen a sniff. The final scoreline of 7-1 matched the most dominant final in 17 years, since Phil Taylor dismantled Raymond van Barneveld by the same margin in 2009.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Littler’s performance was statistically outstanding:
- Average: 106.02
- 180s: 16
- 140+ scores: 19
- Checkout percentage: 46% (23/50)
- Winning checkout: 147 (D15)
Van Veen, despite averaging a respectable 99.94, simply couldn’t keep pace. His doubles let him down at crucial moments, hitting just 8 of 21 attempts (38%). When you’re only converting a third of your checkouts against someone of Littler’s calibre, there’s only one outcome.
The Return of the Ally Pally Wasp
No World Championship would be complete without an appearance from the infamous Ally Pally wasp, and the persistent pest chose the biggest stage to make its presence felt.
During the fifth set, with Littler cruising towards a 4-1 lead, the flying intruder buzzed around both players and referee George Noble. Littler was briefly distracted from his throw before the wasp was eventually wafted away. True to form, he recovered immediately and closed out the set.
The wasp had been a constant presence throughout the tournament. Earlier in the competition, Nitin Kumar’s dart struck one mid-flight in a moment that had to be seen to be believed. Jurjen van der Velde even brought bug spray to the stage before his match, only to be told off by organisers concerned about allergic reactions in the crowd.
End of an Era: McDonald and Noble Bow Out
Saturday’s final marked the end of an era at Alexandra Palace. Master of Ceremonies John McDonald and referee George Noble both stepped away from the PDC after decades of service, having been inducted into the PDC Hall of Fame earlier in the day.
McDonald, 65, has been the unmistakable voice of PDC events since 2004. His distinctive introductions have become as much a part of the darts experience as the arrows themselves. “I’ve spent two decades now working with the PDC and loved every moment,” McDonald said. “But the time is right for me to hang up my microphone.”
Noble, 57, joined the PDC in 2007 after leading the BDO’s refereeing team. He has presided over seven nine-dart finishes at Alexandra Palace, including Raymond van Barneveld’s historic perfect leg in the 2008/09 World Championship.
The reason for Noble’s departure was particularly poignant. “My daughter is 21 now, and I’ve missed 17 of her birthdays,” he explained. “I’ve now got grandchildren, and missed their birthdays, so it’s all about a little bit more quality of life.”
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter paid tribute to both: “John and George have played an instrumental role in the PDC’s growth over the last 20 years. John’s enthusiasm, passion and his ability to create an atmosphere through his delivery has been one of the main reasons why darts has become so loved.”
Littler’s Remarkable Rise Continues
At just 18, Littler has now won ten major titles in barely two years on the professional circuit. He’s the first player to claim the £1 million winner’s prize, awarded for the first time this year.
Perhaps most remarkably, he’s lost just once on the Alexandra Palace stage. That sole defeat came in the 2024 final against Luke Humphries during his debut year. Since then, he’s been utterly dominant, winning 14 consecutive matches at the Worlds.
Littler is now the fourth player to reach three consecutive World Championship finals, joining Phil Taylor, Dennis Priestley and Gary Anderson. At this rate, Taylor’s record of 14 world titles might not be as untouchable as it once seemed.
Routes to the Final
Luke Littler
Gian van Veen
What’s Next?
Littler will enter 2026 as the undisputed number one in world darts, with more major titles than many players accumulate in entire careers. The question now isn’t whether he can challenge Taylor’s legacy, but how quickly he’ll do it.
For Van Veen, reaching a World Championship final at 23 is a remarkable achievement. He’ll learn from this experience and, given his talent, surely won’t have to wait long for another shot at the biggest prize in darts.
As for the Ally Pally wasp? It’ll almost certainly be back next December.
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