Luke Littler breaks down in tears after winning the World Darts Championship before teen sensation, 17, shares touching moment with Michael van Gerwen

Luke Littler broke down in tears after sensationally winning the World Darts Championship and shared a touching moment with Michael van Gerwen.

Littler, aged just 17, was crowned the king of the sport after beating Van Gerwen, a three-time winner, 7-3 in the final at Alexandra Palace.

The Warrington-born wonderkid became the youngest ever winner of the competition in the process and never looked like surrendering his lead after moving 4-0 ahead.

Van Gerwen was the previous youngest champion when he won his first world title in 2014 at the age of 24 but Littler, sport’s newest phenomenon, shattered the record with ease to take the Sid Waddell Trophy and the £500,000 cash prize.

Littler averaged a little over 102 and threw 12 180s in an imperious display in London.

A clinical 56 per cent on the doubles saw him pepper the outer ring to devastating effect, leaving his Dutch opponent trailing in his wake. 

His destiny was realised after he pinned D16, leading Littler to let out a roar. The tears then started to flow as he made his way to the side of the stage, in front of his family. 

Littler’s career has been a meteoric rise since his run to the final at the World Championship last year, and he won 10 titles on his maiden year on the circuit. 

‘I can’t believe it. We both played so well,’ he told Sky Sports.

‘I’ve said in interviews that I needed to get off to a quick start tonight and that’s what I did. But he was behind me the whole game, those cover shots – he’d hit two trebles and I’d have to come back with two or three.

‘Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy. You’ve got to get through a tough field. 

‘I can’t believe it. I keep saying it but that first game against Ryan Meikle was the one that really mattered, and throughout I’ve just settled.

‘At 2-0 up [in the final set] I started getting nervous but I said to myself to just relax. I was throwing for the match and to get it over and done with then was special.’

On what the rest of the year could hold for him, Littler added: ‘Anything. I could end 2025 winning absolutely nothing, but I’ve picked up the best [prize].

‘I want to get more than 10 titles this year, but if I end 2025 with nothing, I’ve picked the big one up.’

Van Gerwen spoke glowingly of his opponent, saying: ‘I’m 35, he’s 17. Every 17 years, a star gets born. He deserves it, he played well. 

‘It hurts, but that’s how it should be. If it doesn’t hurt, you’re not going to be a sportsman. I have to move on and make sure I keep playing better.’

Van Gerwen finished the match with a 100 average and one more than 180 than Littler, but his title hopes were derailed after he hit just 14 of his 38 attempts at a double.