Luke Littler makes thoughts on £1m World Championship prize money clear | Other | Sport
Luke Littler is confident that a second consecutive World Championship title will place him among the titans of darts – and says it’s making himself an all-time great that drives him on, not the possibility of winning £1million in prize money. The prodigious teenager appears invincible as he storms into his third consecutive final at Alexandra Palace, having dispatched Ryan Searle 6-1 in the semi-finals.
Few would bet against him hoisting the Sid Waddell Trophy on Saturday night, which would make him the first player to secure back-to-back titles since Gary Anderson 10 years ago. Littler’s dominance mirrors that of Phil Taylor’s two-decade reign and Michael van Gerwen’s mid-2010s supremacy. The 18-year-old believes that clinching the trophy will elevate him to their ranks.
“Obviously in their primes, they were just absolutely unbelievable. I was watching it as a kid,” Littler commented. “With what I’ve done, I can near enough say I’m playing just as well, with the titles, the averages, the amount of nine-darters on TV.
“Maybe if I get tomorrow, then I might be on my same level. I’ve got every right to think I can, but I never, ever say I’m going to win it. Never, ever. I never say I’m going to win this and that. We’ll just see how the darts go, because one day it’s different.”
Should Littler emerge victorious – and it would take an extraordinary effort to thwart him – he would pocket a record £1m prize. But the teen says he’s focused on other matters.
“It’s a massive prize, but it’s the trophy on the stage, it’s not the money,” he said. “I’m repeating myself, but ever since the Grand Slam I have just said I want to go back-to-back.
“So hopefully I can lift the trophy again and think about the money after. It feels great, not many people have done it, the first three World Championships reaching the final. I have joined a short list of people doing that. Now obviously the only goal is to join the list of people going back-to-back champions.”
Yet Gian van Veen could prove to be the obstacle standing in Littler’s way after the emerging Dutch sensation secured his maiden final appearance.
Van Veen triumphed in a pulsating encounter against Anderson, with the see-saw battle concluding just before 11pm. Whilst Van Veen prevailed 6-3, the scoreline barely captures the drama of an enthralling contest that hung in the balance throughout.
Both players posted averages exceeding 102, both nailed a 170 checkout, and Anderson registered more maximum scores, yet it was Van Veen’s clinical finishing that proved decisive.
During substantial stretches of the match, Van Veen, who has enjoyed a stellar breakthrough campaign and now sits at world number three, demonstrated the calibre of play capable of rivalling Littler.
The 23-year-old, who amusingly captured the PDC Youth World Championship in November, now stands just one victory away from claiming his first senior crown and emulating Dutch legends Raymond van Barneveld and Van Gerwen. “I am so happy,” he expressed on stage.
“Winning this game… 10 years ago or five years ago, wherever I was, struggling playing darts. I remember three or four years ago I was in Barnsley in the Metrodome and I was struggling with dartitis. I was crying at the table and look at me four years later. It’s all been worth it.”
