Summary

  • Luke Littler beats Michael van Gerwen 7-3 to become youngest PDC world darts champion

  • Littler, 17, triumphs after losing in final on debut last year

  • Van Gerwen, 35, misses out on fourth title

  • Get Involved: #bbcdarts, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. Littler reigns at the Palacepublished at 23:05 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    Luke Littler kisses the World Championship trophyImage source, PA Media

    Thanks for being with us during a marathon three weeks of darts coverage.

    There will be loads more reaction to Luke Littler's historic world title victory across the BBC in the next few hours and over the weekend.

    But from our live text commentary team, it's goodbye.

  2. Littler wins the world title - in picturespublished at 23:03 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    The moment of triumph...

    Luke Littler celebratesImage source, PA Media

    Followed by the tears...

    Luke Littler emotional after winning the world titleImage source, PA Media

    Followed by the trophy.

    Luke Littler with the World Championship trophyImage source, PA Media

    Your 2025 PDC World Championship winner is Luke Littler.

  3. Sir Keir Starmer congratulates new world champion Littlerpublished at 23:00 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has congratulated Luke Littler on his world title success.

    He said in a statement: "Mesmerising performance from Luke Littler to win the World Darts Championship.

    "Congratulations Luke on being the youngest ever PDC World Darts Champion. An inspirational performance under such pressure to lift the trophy.

    "You should be really proud of what you've achieved tonight, not just for yourself but for the sport of darts as a whole."

  4. 'Interesting announcement' of Premier League line-up beckonspublished at 22:54 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    Fairly soon on the agenda for the new world champion Luke Littler - other than celebrating his 18th birthday - will be starting the defence of his Premier League Darts crown.

    The eight-player line-up will be announced on Monday, with the tournament starting in Belfast on 6 February and running through to the end of May.

    "It's a tricky one this year as a lot of so-called top players have been out of form," PDC chief executive Matt Porter told Sky Sports. "But we always have to look for the star quality and who can perform on the big stage.

    "It's going to be an interesting announcement. We're certainly not going to please everybody but we have to make a decision we feel is right."

  5. Postpublished at 22:50 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    Sam Drury
    BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace

    Nobody wanted to miss out tonight, even the Spice Boys were in attendance...

    Spice Boys
    Fans at Ally Pally
    Fans at Ally Pally
  6. Littler the headline makerpublished at 22:45 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    Telegraph sportImage source, Telegraph

    Luke Littler is making headlines after defeating Michael van Gerwen in the PDC World Championship final.

    The MirrorImage source, The Mirror
  7. Littler's remarkable ranking risepublished at 22:42 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    Luke Littler went into last year's World Championship ranked 164th in the world.

    He was world number four heading into this one and now rises to number two, behind Luke Humphries, in the two-year Order of Merit after winning the tournament at the second attempt.

    Luke Littler has risen from 164 to four in the world rankings
  8. Report: Littler demolishes Van Gerwen to claim historic world titlepublished at 22:38 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    Here's the report of how Luke Littler made history at the Ally Pally...

  9. What is the prize money for the World Darts Championship?published at 22:37 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    Sir Chris Hoy presents the World Championship trophy to Luke LittlerImage source, PA Media
    • Winner: £500,000
    • Runner-up: £200,000
    • Semi-finalists: £100,000
    • Quarter-finalists: £50,000
    • Fourth-round losers: £35,000
    • Third-round losers: £25,000
    • Second-round losers: £15,000
    • First-round losers: £7,500
    • Total: £2,500,000
  10. That winning feelingpublished at 22:34 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    Members of Luke Littler's local darts club in St Helens celebrate a historic victory.

    Members of Luke Littler's local darts club in St Helens celebrate a historic victory.Image source, PA Media
  11. Postpublished at 22:31 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    Luke Littler's friends and family joined him on the stage shortly after the trophy presentation.

    Sportspeople need plenty of support behind the scenes to make sure they can achieve their dreams, and it's wonderful that they get their moment to share in the celebrations.

  12. Postpublished at 22:27 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    As well as the world title, Luke Littler has also collected the Ballon d'Art trophy as the player with the most 180s in the World Championship.

    It was presented to him by Sir Chris Hoy.

    Littler hit 76 maximums, 20 more than his closest challenger, Michael van Gerwen.

    Sponsors Paddy Power promised to donate £1,000 to Prostate Cancer UK for every 180 thrown at the World Championship.

    There were 907 in total and that figure, along with £60,000 for each of the two nine-darters we saw, means more than £1m has been raised for the charity.

  13. Littler's meteoric rise to the world titlepublished at 22:22 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    Luke LittlerImage source, PA Media
    • 2024 was Luke Littler's first year as a professional.
    • He reached the World Championship final in January 2024 aged 16, losing to Luke Humphries.
    • The teenager won 10 titles in his debut year, including the Premier League and Grand Slam of Darts.
    • Littler rose from 164th to fourth in the world rankings and is now up to a career-high second in the PDC Order of Merit.
    • He was named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and was runner-up in the main award to Olympic gold medal-winning athlete Keely Hodgkinson.
    • His prize money topped £1m in 2024, and he has earned another £500,000 for claiming the world title.
  14. 'I've picked the big one up'published at 22:18 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    More from the new world champion Luke Littler, on learning from the experience of last year's defeat in the final by Luke Humphries:

    "I learned a lot. Last year in the semis against Rob Cross, that was the first time I was 1-0 down, and then obviously against Luke.

    "But tonight and throughout the tournament, I just needed to get off to a quick start.

    "Earlier today, I watched all of the game back against Luke and I had the visions."

    On what the rest of 2025 holds for him: "Anything. I could end 2025 winning absolutely nothing, but I've picked up the best [prize].

    "I want to get more than 10 titles this year, but if I end 2025 with nothing, I've picked the big one up."

  15. 'Every moment he had to hurt me, he did'published at 22:14 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    Runner-up Michael van Gerwen, speaking to Sky Sports:

    "I went 4-0 behind and after that I thought I wasn't doing myself any justice, but that's the way it is.

    "You need to try to fight and battle back and I think after going 4-0 down, I was definitely not the worst player out of us. But fair play to him, every chance he got and every moment he had to hurt me, he did.

    "I had a lovely tournament and I enjoyed every moment of it. We all know I've come from a far distance and I've been battling my own game, but at the beginning of the game I was letting myself down too much and when you do that against a player with his ability, you're going to be in trouble.

    "You have to take it on the chin, move on and walk off the stage as a champion. I always take my hat off to the people that beat me and if they beat me in a good game, fair play to them. That's how sport works."

    He adds, with a smile: "I'm 35, he's 17. Every 17 years, a star gets born.

    "He deserves it, he played well. It hurts, but that's how it should be. If it doesn't hurt, you're not going to be a sportsman. I have to move on and make sure I keep playing better."

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:09 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    #bbcdarts, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    I sat down to watch the darts with a cup of tea and a samosa, and since Littler took to the floor - both have gone cold!! Bring on the new world of darts, amazing.

    Toby

  17. 'Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy'published at 22:05 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    World champion Luke Littler, speaking to Sky Sports after his 7-3 win in the final against Michael van Gerwen:

    "I can't believe it. We both played so well.

    "I've said in interviews that I needed to get off to a quick start tonight and that's what I did. But he was behind me the whole game, those cover shots - he'd hit two trebles and I'd have to come back with two or three.

    "Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy. You've got to get through a tough field. I can't believe it.

    "I keep saying it but that first game against Ryan Meikle [in round two] was the one that really mattered, and throughout I've just settled.

    "At 2-0 up [in the final set] I started getting nervous but I said to myself to just relax. I was throwing for the match and to get it over and done with then was special."

  18. Postpublished at 22:02 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    Sam Drury
    BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace

    If anyone in the arena was hoping to hear what Luke Littler has to say, they’re going to be disappointed.

    You can hear nothing in here but the fans singing his name!

    Luke Littler and Michael van GerwenImage source, PA Media
  19. Postpublished at 22:00 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    The new world champion Luke Littler is speaking on stage and he says he "can't believe" that he's world champion. Full quotes to come.

  20. Littler lifts the trophypublished at 21:59 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

    Result: Littler 7-3 Van Gerwen

    A year ago, Luke Littler was holding the runners-up trophy on the Ally Pally stage and he said he wouldn't touch the winner's trophy until he won it.

    He has now...

    He lifts the Sid Waddell Trophy high as the tickertape falls.

    Your champion - 17-year-old Luke Littler.