- Luke Littler beat Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final at Ally Pally on Friday
- Littler received the Sid Waddell Trophy from former track cyclist Chris Hoy
- He was congratulated by Sir Keir Starmer after becoming the youngest winner.
Luke Littler made history when he was presented with the Sid Waddell Trophy by former track cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and personally congratulated by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after becoming the youngest-ever PDC World Darts Champion.
The 17-year-old Warrington star produced a dominant performance to defeat three-time champion Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final at Alexandra Palace on Friday night.
Littler was overcome with emotion after hitting a D16 to win the final in front of a packed arena. The young man burst into tears before turning to the crowd and throwing his fists in the air in celebration.
Today, who was an ambassador for Paddy Power’s BIGGER 180 campaign, asking all men to check their prostate cancer risk using the online prostate cancer risk checker, presented the trophy to Littler.
While Starmer praised Littler’s performance as “mesmerizing” and “inspiring”, saying in a statement: “Congratulations Luke on being the youngest PDC World Darts Champion.”
“An inspiring performance under so much pressure to lift the trophy. You should be very proud of what you have achieved tonight, not only for yourself but for the sport of darts as a whole.
Luke Littler made history when former track cyclist Chris Hoy presented him with the Sid Waddell Trophy after becoming the youngest-ever PDC World Darts Champion.
Littler was also personally congratulated by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (pictured above).
The 17-year-old Warrington star put in a dominant display to defeat three-time champion Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final at Alexandra Palace on Friday night.
Littler’s victory capped a meteoric rise over the past 12 months, during which he won 10 titles, including the Premier League and the Grand Slam of Darts.
This win was especially significant as he avenged his loss in last year’s finals to Luke Humphries and cemented his status as a dominant force in the sport.
The final, billed as a clash between the sport’s biggest stars, was one-sided from the start. Littler took a 4-0 lead, winning 12 of the first 15 matches with a 102.73 average, 12 180 and a clinical 56 percent success rate in doubles.
Van Gerwen, despite a spirited fight with moments like an out of 132, struggled with missed doubles early on and was unable to match Littler’s scoring power.
The match was effectively decided in the first 30 minutes, with Littler maintaining his composure under pressure. He sealed the victory at double 16, falling to his knees in tears as the crowd erupted.
“I can’t believe it,” Littler said after the game. “Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy and to achieve it is incredible. I said I needed a fast start and I got it, but Michael was always behind me. To achieve it when I did was special.”
Van Gerwen, a three-time world champion, graciously acknowledged Littler’s superiority that night.
“Fair play to him, every opportunity he had, he took it,” the Dutchman said. ‘Of course it hurts, but that’s part of being an athlete. He is a star and he deserved it.