DailySun
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.
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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
