1/4 A disappointed Michael van Gerwen. (Photo: PDC, Kieran Cleeves)
Michael van Gerwen was no match for Luke Littler during the World Darts Championship final. The 17-year-old super talent from England was too strong 7-3 in London’s Alexandra Palace on Friday evening. He is therefore the youngest world champion ever and replaces the then 24-year-old Van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen started the final with a lot of self-confidence, he even wanted to take on the role of favorite. The Vlijmen native improved every match this World Cup and made an impression in the semi-finals by beating Chris Dobey 6-1. With Luke Littler he met one of the top favorites who also impressed this tournament.
Littler went full throttle from the first minute and took the first four sets very convincingly in a short time. Van Gerwen also had his chances, but he was sloppy when throwing shots. Until set five, only three of his seventeen doubles were successful.
Despite being 4-0 behind, ‘Mighty MIke’ did not give up. The English express train slowed down a bit and Van Gerwen cleverly took the fifth set. His last finish was 132 with a bullseye to finish: 4-1.
The subsequent break did him no favors. Littler recovered and the two finalists made it an exciting set. With the score 2-2, the Englishman struck before Van Gerwen had the chance to throw out: 5-1.
Littler was already cautiously smelling victory, but Van Gerwen obviously did not want to make a fuss about it. The seventh set was of a high level and here too the score was 2-2 in legs. This time it was the green party that prevailed: 5-2.
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The following set showed Littler who was boss Ally Pally. Set eight went convincingly to the crowd favorite and so he only had to take one set. Yet it was Van Gerwen who struck again: 6-3. It remained a three-set win for the number three on the placement list, because Littler did not let him get any closer. With 3-0 in legs he took the deserved World Cup title.
First world title
For Littler it was his first world title, after he lost the final last year at the age of 16 to fellow countryman Luke Humphries. For Van Gerwen it was the third time in a row that he lost a World Cup final.
Next weekend will still be busy with all kinds of obligations, but from Monday he will go on holiday with his family.
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