January 3rd 2025.
Seventeen-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler is on the brink of making history as he prepares to face off against Michael van Gerwen in the World Darts Championship final. Despite his young age, Littler is no stranger to the big stage, having reached the final for the second consecutive year with a dominant 6-1 victory over Stephen Bunting in the semi-finals. However, Littler knows that his friendly encounters, such as fist bumps, may be a thing of the past as he gears up for the highly-anticipated final.
All eyes have been on Littler ever since last year's champion, Luke Humphries, was eliminated by Peter Wright in the previous round. Meanwhile, Van Gerwen, a three-time champion, secured his spot in the final with an impressive 6-1 win over Chris Dobey in the semis. The stage is set for an epic showdown in London's Alexandra Palace, with Littler being the bookmakers' favorite throughout the tournament. In fact, he maintained his top spot even after his remarkable 105.48 average in the semi-final match against Bunting.
When asked about his reaction to reaching the final for the second time, Littler told talkSPORT, "I still can't believe it. But then again, I have to reflect on my performances leading up to this moment, and they have been excellent. I'm really happy with the way I'm playing." Van Gerwen, who has reached the final for the seventh time, is a formidable opponent, but Littler is not intimidated. He confidently stated, "I think I played pretty well against Bunting, considering the circumstances. He was right behind me throughout the game, and I couldn't afford to lose focus. He missed quite a few doubles, and I took advantage of that."
Despite his relaxed demeanor and friendly interactions with his opponents during previous rounds, Littler knows that the final is a different ballgame. When asked if he plans on continuing with the fist bumps, he shook his head and laughed, "No, definitely not. There will be no more fist bumps after sets. We both need to stay focused. But I can't wait for it tomorrow."
Littler is not taking his competition lightly, as he knows Van Gerwen has also faced tough opponents throughout the championship, including Callan Rydz, who was in top form this year. Littler acknowledged, "This is the match that everyone wanted to see, especially after Luke [Humphries] was eliminated. All eyes have been on me, but let's not forget the challenges that Michael has overcome to reach this point. This will definitely be the toughest game to win." The stage is set for an epic showdown between the two talented players, and fans can't wait to see who will emerge as the World Darts Champion.
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