Luke Littler produced a stunning performance to reclaim the PDC World Championship title, defeating Gian van Veen 7-1 in a one-sided final. The teenager won 21 of the last 24 legs, leaving van Veen with little opportunity to mount a comeback. After the match, Littler leaned against the drinks table in exhaustion, crying as he absorbed the magnitude of his achievement.
Littler, now a two-time world champion, acknowledged the emerging rivalry with van Veen. “We’re always gonna have battles – on the pro tour, Euro tour, majors – and who knows, we might be back here in the final next year,” he said. He also dedicated the win to his family, adding, “My family and friends have supported me all the way. This is why we’re here, and it’s not stopping anytime soon.”
Van Veen, who rose to world number three and Dutch number one, was gracious in defeat. “Luke wasn’t in the mood to give me any more chances. He played phenomenally; he put me under pressure every leg,” van Veen said. “I’m very proud to have reached the final, but obviously I’m disappointed. I played okay but I missed too many chances.”
The performance drew comparisons to Phil Taylor’s dominance. Littler’s relentless scoring and finishing were reminiscent of Taylor’s 7-0 victory over John Part in 2001. Van Veen’s average would have won three finals since 2015, according to commentator Max Williams, highlighting the exceptional standard set by Littler.
Littler became the first man to win £1 million in a single world championship due to doubled prize money from round one. When asked about his first purchase, he joked, “I can’t change car just yet!” The victory also extended his lead over Luke Humphries at the top of the world rankings.
