A teenager is now officially the best darts player in the world: Luke Littler has won the world title at the age of just 17. And also because his opponent failed because of himself. Littler won clearly in the end with 7:3 – because he not only scored strong scores again, but above all was much better on the doubles fields.
There was so much at stake in this game. The winner would move up to second in the world rankings behind reigning champion Luke Humphries, receive the winner’s check of £500,000 and van Gerwen’s record as youngest world champion, which he secured in 2014 at the age of 24, was in jeopardy.
Both darts professionals had won six of twelve previous duels. At the World Cup, the set balance for both was 22:8, van Gerwen had the better doubles rate (43.09:41.05 percent), Littler threw significantly more 180s (64:43) and a better three-dart average ( 102.13:99.75). But it quickly became clear what was happening on the stage at London’s Ally Pally that day.
Van Gerwen makes a mistake at the start, Littler quickly leads 2-0
Van Gerwen started his seventh World Cup final very nervously – he had previously won three and lost three – and had to accept a break after missing three doubles. Littler won the first set and didn’t even have to go close to his maximum, his average of 93 per shot was very low for his standards, but van Gerwen beat him with 91. More importantly, Littler was extremely strong when checking out on the double fields.
That’s how it went in the second set, in which van Gerwen couldn’t win a leg. Only 15 minutes had been played in the final and the way had apparently been paved for Littler. Van Gerwen had previously sounded: “Luke was in the final last year and only had a sniff of the trophy. I will make sure he can continue to only sniff it.” But his arrows spoke a different language.
After his defeat in the final a year earlier against Humphries, Littler was totally there – especially because his favorite double was a bench. Of his first six legs he won, he finished four on double 10 and never missed it.
The double fields are the big difference
The second leg in the third set was representative of van Gerwen’s performance. The Dutchman had the chance for his first break, but he missed double 20 three times. Littler countered and equalized with his third attempt to make it 1-1 – and then made the break himself. And once again Littler closed the third set with double 10.
In round number four, Littler was quickly ahead with 2-0 and a break, van Gerwen looked despondently into the rather quiet final audience. It was an emotionless final because the former darts dominator was too weak to create any moments of tension. Van Gerwen even had the chance to equalize at 2:2, but he again missed three double opportunities and therefore went behind 0:4 sets.
Van Gerwen reports back – but only briefly
Littler’s scoring was not outstanding with an average of 98, the big difference was in the double rate: his 48 percent was worthy of the final, while van Gerwen’s 17.65 percent was far from it. But then he came back in the fifth set. Van Gerwen was able to hold his throw for the first time and then he broke with a 132 checkout to win the set. The comeback of the three-time world champion?
Littler gave the answer. The 17-year-old countered with increasingly better scoring, increasing his average to over 100 and thus keeping his opponent, who had become stronger, at bay. The sixth set went into a fifth leg for the first time – Littler finished on double 10 for the tenth time.
Littler stays cool
The game now had a real final character, it was close and mostly high-class, both the audience and van Gerwen became more emotional. The Dutchman was also able to secure the seventh round after neither opponent could be broken. But Littler couldn’t be stopped, he broke his opponent to make it 2-0 and then closed the bag to make it 6-2. The young Englishman was only one set away from his big triumph.
And that was noticeable, Littler cramped up and no longer hit the triple fields. Van Gerwen effortlessly reduced the score to 3:6. But his improvement in performance to an average of around 100 and a double rate of over 30 percent came too late. Littler set up and then immediately broke to make it 2-0. And after about 100 minutes of play, he finished the game with his third match dart.