CHANGE THE RECORD
Luke Littler breaks incredible World Championship record with sensational final win over Michael Van Gerwen
The Dutchman had held the record for over a decade
LUKE LITTLER demolished Michael van Gerwen in the PDC World Championship final - and took an 11-year record off Mighty Mike in the process.
The Nuke, 17, dominated a one-sided contest at the Ally Pally to secure a stunning maiden world title.
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Littler put on a show from the off, rattling the Dutchman as he raced into a 4-0 lead before securing the match 7-3.
Van Gerwen was also a teenage star and appeared at the finals for the first time in 2008 as a fresh-faced 17-year-old.
But he never got close to winning the title until beating Peter Wright aged 24 in 2014.
MVG became the youngest player of all time to win the PDC crown when he saw off Snakebite 7-4.
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That proud record has stood ever since - but has now been claimed by Warrington-born Luke.
MVG said after: "Fair play to him, every chance he had, every moment he to hurt me, he did it.
"I sometimes say every 17 years a star is born, and he's one of them."
Littler has lifted the Sid Waddell trophy aged just 17 years, 11 months and 22 days.
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As well as securing the silverware, The Nuke has also pocketed a cool £500,000.
It's the biggest cheque of his young career and comes after a stunning year for the SPOTY runner-up.
Speaking afterwards, he told Sky: "I can't believe it. Honestly. I can't believe it.
"We both played so well. I knew I needed to get off to a great start, and that's what I did.
"Michael was right behind me the whole game.
"Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy. So it really is a dream come true."
Littler hit 25 out of 45 on the doubles, an impressive 55 per cent.
He continued: "I was practising backstage on the tops and 10s (D10).
"At 2-0 up I started getting nervous but I said to myself 'just relax'.
"I was throwing for the match but to get it over and done with was special."
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He ended 2024 with a prize money haul of £1,028,500.
The teenager also claimed the Premier League, Grand Slam, World Series, Bahrain Masters, Poland Masters, Austrian Open, Belgian Open, and three Players Championships.
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Throughout 2024, Littler sealed victory in 145 of his 189 games played.
He also hit five nine-darters and crashed in 800 maximums in PDC matches across the year.
Away from the oche, SunSport has exclusively revealed Littler's next career move.
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World Darts Championship - top stories
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The teenager is set to bag a big-money deal to star on a new series of Bullseye - in a dream double act" with Freddie Flintoff.
Littler impressed ITV bosses during a one-off Christmas special.
The reboot of the cult gameshow pulled in almost 7 million viewers.
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A TV insider said: "Luke will be getting deals thrown at him from all quarters, but ITV are confident that he’ll be tempted.
"This deal could turn him from being a darts star into a bona fide TV star."
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