Teenage sensation Luke Littler produced a masterclass to power into the semi-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship, delivering a commanding 5-0 victory over Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski on Friday 2 January 2026. The defending champion's flawless performance was swiftly followed by the shock exit of his biggest rival, Luke Humphries, dramatically clearing his path to a potential second consecutive world title.
Littler Wins Back the Ally Pally Crowd
After facing significant boos in his previous match against Rob Cross, the 18-year-old from Warrington admitted he was "expecting the worst" from the Alexandra Palace audience. However, a virtuoso display quickly turned the atmosphere in his favour. A rendition of 'There's only one Luke Littler' rang out before the match began, setting the tone for a supportive evening.
"It's a new year, so there's a new crowd," Littler remarked afterwards. "A few boos here and there but as soon as I got on stage the crowd were absolutely unbelievable... I clapped everyone so they knew I wanted them on my side again. They were on my side tonight and I got the job done." He added that the experience against Cross had mentally strengthened him for future challenges.
Humphries' Title Dream Ends Against Inspired Van Veen
In a stunning turn of events, Littler's main obstacle to the final, world number one and 2024 champion Luke Humphries, was emphatically defeated 5-1 by Dutch star Gian van Veen. Van Veen produced a spectacular performance, averaging 105.41, hitting 11 maximum 180s, and sealing his victory with a spectacular 170 'Big Fish' checkout.
"This smile won't go off in the next 24 hours. I am so over the moon," an elated Van Veen said on stage. "Luke is a fantastic player... we all know we need to play at our best to beat him and that's what I did today." Humphries, who had vowed to battle Littler for the crown, was left without a chance to face him.
Semi-Final Line-Up Takes Shape
Littler now stands as the overwhelming favourite to become the first man to retain the World Championship since Gary Anderson a decade ago. He will face Ryan Searle in the last four, after Searle continued his impressive run with a 5-2 win over Jonny Clayton.
In the other semi-final, Gian van Veen will take on the resurgent Gary Anderson. The 55-year-old Scot, a two-time champion, advanced by ending Justin Hood's dream debut run with a 5-2 victory. Anderson is now just two wins away from a remarkable third world title, which would make him the oldest ever PDC world champion.
With the crowd now firmly behind him and his greatest rival eliminated, Luke Littler's march towards darting history appears to be gathering unstoppable momentum at Alexandra Palace.
