The favorite of the Darts World Championship sails to the semi-final victory
PDC World Darts Championship favorite Luke Littler reached his second consecutive final at the tournament by defeating Stephen Bunting 6-1 in the Final Four.
Littler averaged 106.15, including eight 180s and a 48% doubles conversion rate, on his way to victory in the first four sets at London’s Alexandra Palace.
LUKE LITTLER HAS HEAD TO THE SECOND FINAL OF THE WORLD DART CHAMPIONSHIP! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/B5prHiMbnq
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 2, 2025
In an admirably good-natured contest, the 17-year-old scored 13 180s which helped him fend off a spirited attack from Bunting.
Immediately before the second semi-final, Van Gerwen showed a comparatively dominant performance and secured his seventh semi-final victory at this tournament with a 6-1 win against Chris Dobey.
Luke Littler is very good at darts.pic.twitter.com/8P8Z2JrrH6
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 2, 2025
Littler vs. Bunting
Littler had little trouble with world number eight Bunting, whose best performance at the event so far had been reaching the 2021 semi-finals.
The 39-year-old had the darts he needed to take the score to 4-2, but Littler’s most assured performance of his season so far quickly dashed Liverpool’s faint hopes of a comeback.
After losing to Luke Humphries in the final last year, Littler appears to be peaking at the perfect time, with his final average of 105.48 being his highest ever at the championships.
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 2, 2025
Van Gerwen is waiting for Littler
Three-time champion Van Gerwen ended a six-year wait to reach the tournament, including a 158 checkout in the sixth set, and faces Littler on Friday (20:00 GMT).
“It will be incredible… there were a lot of fantastic moments,” Van Gerwen said Sky Sports. “The audience loves it, the people at home love it – what more could you want? This is darts at the highest level and that’s what we want to achieve.
“We are still so far away (from victory). I still have to fight. (Friday) is a different day and the title is a long way off. You have to keep telling yourself that.
The people’s champion ❤️ pic.twitter.com/C2xUSzKged
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 2, 2025
“I don’t want to make any mistakes. I want it to stay that way. An average of 99 isn’t that bad. I am satisfied with the performance. I was efficient.
“If I had to do something, I did it at the right moment and that’s what you have to do to win games. There are always ups and downs, but today I had the right mentality. Even when things didn’t go the way I wanted, I produced good things at the right moment.”
The final is confirmed! Michael van Gerwen meets Luke Littler tomorrow evening live on Sky Sports 🍿🎯 pic.twitter.com/cKKJI80Sa7
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) January 2, 2025
Littler vs. Van Gerwen
Littler beat Van Gerwen 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the Czech Darts Open in October, winning despite the Dutchman averaging 112.19 in that match.
That was the highest losing average ever on the European Tour, while Littler scored 110.57. Van Gerwen had an average of 99.75 at the championship, Littler an average of 102.13.
