Luke Littler Reflects on the Crucial Match That Sparked His Incredible World Darts Championship Success

LUKE LITTLER has highlighted the significance of the “essential match” in his quest to become the youngest PDC world champion in history.

The 17-year-old emerged victorious against three-time champion Michael van Gerwen 7-3 on Friday night during the second Ally Pally final of his debut season as a professional.

Luke Littler has revealed the 'game that really counted' at the World Championships

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Luke Littler has shared details about the ‘crucial match’ during the World ChampionshipsCredit: Reuters
Littler struggled with the pressure against Ryan Meikle

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Littler experienced pressure during his match against Ryan Meikle

Nevertheless, Littler quickly acknowledged that his pre-Christmas win against world No. 60 Ryan Meikle was his most formidable test.

Following his success against MVG, Littler remarked: “I mentioned in interviews that I needed to get off to a strong start, and that’s exactly what I did.

“Michael was closely trailing behind me, maintaining his pace throughout the match.

“The opening match against Ryan Meikle was the one that truly mattered. I gained confidence as the tournament went on.

“Being ahead 2-0 made me slightly nervous, but I reminded myself to keep focused. The pressure to finish was what made that moment unforgettable.”

Littler was overwhelmed with emotion after a nail-biting 3-1 victory over 28-year-old barber Meikle in the second round on December 21.

The young talent was moved to tears and struggled to articulate his feelings when speaking to Sky Sports post-match.

He then embraced his parents Lisa and Anthony Buckley and rested his face in their arms.

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Littler later confessed that his intense nerves regarding a possible early exit affected him more than he had initially understood, especially as he entered the tournament as a frontrunner.

When queried about this, Littler responded: “The week leading up, I was eager to perform on stage without feeling anxious.

“The train journey here was uneventful; I was just being myself.

“However, once I stepped onto that stage, it felt like I didn’t want to be there. It overwhelmed me mentally.”

Littler went on to triumph over Ian White, narrowly defeating Ryan Joyce before securing a decisive victory against Nathan Aspinall.

He then easily bested Liverpool supporter Stephen Bunting in the semi-finals and showcased his talents against MVG in the finals.

Littler, who has accrued over £1.5 million in prize earnings since his professional debut in January 2024, was presented with the trophy by six-time Olympic cycling champion Chris Hoy, who is currently battling Stage Four prostate cancer.

Luke Littler Prize Money Breakdown

Here is a detailed breakdown of the prize money Luke Littler has earned following his triumph as the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship champion:

World Championship 2025 – £500,000

World Championship 2024 – £200,000

Grand Slam of Darts 2024 – £150,000

European Tour – £91,000

Player Championships events – £71,500

Players Championship final runner-up – £60,000

UK Open 2023 + 2024 – £17,500

World Matchplay – £10,000

World Grand Prix – £7,500

European Championship – £7,500

(Unranked) Premier League Darts – £315,000

TOTAL: £1.43 million

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