Luke Littler WINS World Darts Championship by thrashing Gian van Veen 7-1 to assert title for second yr in a row – and £1m in prize cash

Luke Littler has won the World Darts Championship by thrashing Dutch rival Gian van Veen 7-1 in the final. 

The 18-year-old put in a barnstorming performance at Ally Pally to claim his second world title in a row and take home the £1million top prize. 

He had to contend with the infamous Ally Pally wasp and a change of board due to blood from Van Veen’s hand getting on it, but The Nuke put in a characteristically relentless performance. 

Van Veen took the first set – as Ryan Searle had in the semi-final – but Littler kept his composure and bulldozed through the remaining sets to solidify his world No 1 status.

And the Warrington wizard checked out with a whopping 147 to let everybody know who is king. 

Littler came into this with a mixed record against Van Veen. The pair had won three apiece against each other but Van Veen, 23, had been victorious on three of their last four encounters. 

Luke Littler claimed the World Darts Championship for the second year running by thrashing Gian van Veen 7-1 in the final

He had to contend with the reappearance of the Ally Pally wasp in a dramatic final

He is only the fourth player in history to lift back-to-back titles and if he wins next year, he will already be the joint-second-most decorated star in the tournament’s history. 

Littler was watched by an army of adoring fans including his beautifcian girlfriend Faith Millar and celebrity streamer Angry Ginge. 

More to follow.