PDC World Darts Championship favourite Luke Littler reached his second successive final at the tournament by beating Stephen Bunting 6-1 in the final four.
Littler averaged 106.15 on his way to winning the first four sets at London’s Alexandra Palace, including eight 180s and a 48% conversion rate on doubles.
LUKE LITTLER IS THROUGH TO BACK-TO-BACK WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS!
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— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 2, 2025
In an admirably good-natured contest, the 17-year-old recorded 13 180s to help him hold off a spirited challenge from Bunting.
Immediately before the second semi-final, Van Gerwen produced a comparably dominant display to secure his seventh semi-final win at the tournament by beating Chris Dobey 6-1.
Luke Littler is very good at darts.pic.twitter.com/8P8Z2JrrH6
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 2, 2025
Littler vs Bunting
Littler was rarely troubled by world number eight Bunting, whose best previous showing at the event had been a run to the 2021 semi-finals.
The 39-year-old had darts to make the score 4-2, but Littler’s most assured display of his campaign so far swiftly snuffed out the Liverpudlian’s slim hopes of a comeback.
Having lost to Luke Humphries in last year’s final, Littler appears to be peaking at the perfect time, with his final average of 105.48 his highest at the championship so far.
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Van Gerwen awaits Littler
Three-time champion Van Gerwen ended a six-year wait to go all the way at the tournament, including a 158 checkout during the sixth set, and will face Littler on Friday (8pm GMT).
“It’s going to be incredible… there have been a lot of fantastic moments,” Van Gerwen told Sky Sports. “The crowd’s loving it, the people at home are loving it – what more do you want? This is darts at the highest level and this is what we want to do.
“We are still so far away [from winning]. I still have to battle. [Friday] is another day and the title is far away. That’s what you have to keep telling yourself.
The people’s Champ
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— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 2, 2025
“I don’t want to make mistakes. I want to keep it this way. A 99 average is not that bad. I’m happy with the performance… I was efficient.
“When I had to do things, I did it at the right moment and that’s what you have to do to win games. You always have ups and downs but today I had the right mentality. Even when things didn’t go my way, I produced good stuff at the right moments.”
The final is confirmed! Michael van Gerwen will face Luke Littler tomorrow night, live on Sky Sports
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— Sky Sports (@SkySports) January 2, 2025
Littler vs Van Gerwen
Littler beat Van Gerwen 6-1 in the Czech Darts Open quarter-finals in October, winning despite the Dutchman averaging 112.19 in the match.
That was the highest ever losing average on the European Tour, while Littler posted 110.57. Van Gerwen has averaged 99.75 at the championship, with Littler on 102.13.
