Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler has issued a stark warning to his rivals after ruthlessly defending his PDC world championship crown, declaring his intention to dominate the sport for the next two decades.
Dominant Defence at Alexandra Palace
The 18-year-old prodigy produced a masterclass at London's Alexandra Palace, dismantling Dutch opponent Gian van Veen with a crushing 7-1 victory. The win sees Littler join an elite group, becoming only the fourth player in history to retain the PDC world title, following legends Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, and Gary Anderson.
Despite the comprehensive scoreline, Littler admitted he was braced for a tougher battle. "I was expecting everything," he said. "I was expecting Gian to throw the kitchen sink at me. Obviously he did that in the first set. He could have gone 2-0 up, but from there I don't really know what happened." He capitalised on his opponent's missed opportunities, maintaining a formidable three-dart average of 106 throughout the final.
'I'm Here to Win': Littler's Ominous Warning
In the aftermath of his triumph, Littler's focus was firmly on the future. When asked about the possibility of chasing down Phil 'The Power' Taylor's seemingly untouchable record of 16 world titles, the champion was cautiously ambitious.
"Obviously it's so far away," Littler stated. "I've still got 14 to go. Another 15-16 years I'd say. If it happens, it happens. But I'll be around for a very long time. And I'm here to win." He emphasised that while his first world title would always be special, this victory was about cementing his legacy. "This was just all about retaining it and adding my name to the list of world champions to go back to back. It's very special. We've got to keep going and adding more titles, we can't stop here."
Focus and Pizza: The Champion's Routine
The young champion's extraordinary focus was highlighted by a revealing post-match admission. So locked in on the task at hand, Littler realised only upon arriving at the venue that he hadn't eaten all day. "I woke up at 11/12 o'clock, and had a good sleep," he explained. "But actually I turned up to the venue and realised I hadn't eaten anything all day. So I got a margarita pizza and scrammed that."
Littler also addressed the mixed reactions from the crowd during his tournament run, particularly after his semi-final win over Rob Cross. "Darts is a funny old sport," he reflected. "That's what happens on the day, we bounced back from that, the crowd are back on my side, I'm world champion, there is nothing more I can say."
With a second world title secured before his 19th birthday, Luke Littler has moved beyond prodigy status to establish himself as the sport's leading force. His message to the darting world is clear: this is just the beginning.
