Luke Littler has retained his PDC World Darts Championship title with a dominant 7-1 victory over Gian van Veen at Alexandra Palace. The 18-year-old, who became the youngest world champion in history last year, produced a stunning performance to defeat the Dutchman in just over 40 minutes, securing the first £1m prize in darts history.
Van Veen, the only player on tour with a winning head-to-head record against Littler in 2025, started strongly by winning the first set. However, Littler responded with a surge of brilliance, hitting 16 180s and averaging over 106 throughout the match. The teenager's relentless consistency and ability to produce big moments proved too much for his opponent.
Speaking after the match, Littler said: 'On stage at times, I'm unstoppable.' Van Veen, who averaged 100.0 and hit 38% of his doubles, admitted the pressure from Littler was different to that of other top players. 'Luke Humphries and Gary Anderson always put you under pressure. But this is different pressure,' he said.
The victory cements Littler's status as a global icon and commercial giant, with his electrifying performances drawing in younger audiences to the sport. He now has two world titles, and his next targets include the World Masters later this month and the European Championship in October, the two remaining majors he has yet to win.
