Littler Crowned World Champion – The First Of Many?


By Dylan Williams, Darts Cymru

In recent weeks the world of darts has seen a historic milestone: Luke Littler’s World Championship victory not only crowned him as the youngest PDC World Darts Champion at 17 years old, but it also signalled a transformative moment in the sport’s history.

His triumph has been widely celebrated, with many predicting a bright future ahead for the young talent and even some foreseeing him catching Phil Taylor’s untouchable magic 16 World titles.

The Championship featured a series of compelling matches, culminating in a highly anticipated final between the seasoned 3-time Champion Michael van Gerwen and the prodigious Luke Littler.

Littler’s performance throughout the tournament was exceptional, showcasing remarkable skill and composure beyond his years.

In the final, ‘The Nuke’ delivered a sensational display, averaging 102 and hitting 56% of his double attempts. He dominated the early sets, taking a 4-0 lead before ‘Mighty Mike’ secured his first set.

Despite the Dutchman’s efforts to mount a comeback, Littler maintained his momentum, clinching the title with a commanding 7-3 scoreline.

Following his historic win, Littler set ambitious goals for 2025. He aims to win back-to-back Premier League titles and dreams of hitting a nine-darter in the World Championship.

Additionally, he plans to compete in the World Cup with Luke Humphries for England and aspires to close the gap to World No.1 Humphries in the PDC Order of Merit.

The 2025 World Darts Championship will be remembered as a tournament that showcased the emergence of a new era in darts, the passing of the baton if you like, with Luke Littler’s groundbreaking victory inspiring a new generation of players.

Welsh Fortunes At The Palace

As for Welsh success at the Alexandra Palace, there were plenty of headlines made by our darting dragons, with some being made by the lesser-known throwers from Cymru.

Robert Owen and Nick Kenny made notable impacts on the Championship which ensured they both retained their PDC Tour Cards for the 2025 season.

Given that their professional statuses were on the line if they didn’t make the 3rd Round of the Championship, their achievements were even more significant as it was win-at-all-costs for both.

Robert Owen, a 40-year-old from the Ogmore Valley, has balanced his darts career with a part-time job as a delivery driver for Iceland.

It was widely reported that ‘Stack Attack’ had to call in a favour from his buddy Derek to work a shift for him to take the stage for his last 16 contest with Callan Rydz. That’s why we love the darts!

Despite a valiant effort, Owen was narrowly defeated 4-3 by Rydz, concluding his impressive run in the tournament.

Nick Kenny, from Cwmbran, heroically advanced to the 3rd Round also delivering some outstanding performances.

In the 1st round, he secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Stowe Buntz, highlighted by a spectacular 170 checkout to win the match, the first of the tournament which sent the Ally Pally crowd wild.

His success continued into the 2nd round, where he achieved an eye-catching 3-1 victory against five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld. In the 3rd round, Kenny was matched against 2024 World Champion Luke Humphries. Despite a strong effort, he was defeated, bringing his run to an end.

Both players demonstrated courage and determination throughout the tournament, earning recognition and respect within the darting world.

Price Gets Premier League Place

Gerwyn Price has been selected to participate in the 2025 Premier League of Darts. The competition will kick off on February 6 in Belfast. The event will feature 17 nights of action from February to May, with the world’s top players competing at various venues across Europe – including Night 7 at Cardiff on 20th March.

Price’s inclusion has sparked some controversy. Belgian player Mike De Decker, who won the World Grand Prix in October 2024 and is ranked 24th in the PDC Order of Merit, was not selected. De Decker criticised the decision, particularly questioning the selections of Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall, whom he felt were less deserving.

PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter defended the selection process, stating that while De Decker is talented, consistent performance in major tournaments is required for Premier League selection.

Bunting Beats Price In Bahrain

Stephen Bunting secured his maiden World Series of Darts title, capturing the Bahrain Masters with a hard fought 8-4 victory over Gerwyn Price in the final.

Nevertheless, ‘The Iceman’ enjoyed a return to form as he beat newly crowned World Champion Luke Littler and two-time World Champion Peter Wright on route to his 8th World Series Final.

On receiving his runner up trophy Price declared: “I know my game is going in the right direction. I am getting back to my best and I’m practicing well. People can write me off, but I always come back fighting stronger than ever.”


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