The World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace is set for a final that underlines a shift in elite darts, with defending champion Luke Littler aiming for consecutive titles against first-time finalist Gian van Veen.
Littler’s path to the final was emphatic. In his semi-final, the reigning champion defeated Ryan Searle 6–1 in sets, producing one of his most controlled performances of the tournament. After dropping the opening set, Littler responded with authority, winning six in a row through relentless scoring and composed finishing. Searle had moments of resistance, including flashes of heavy checkout power, but Littler’s consistency and ability to dominate key legs left little room for doubt. The victory kept his campaign firmly focused on a clear target: becoming a back-to-back world champion.
The second semi-final delivered drama of a different kind. Gian van Veen overcame two-time world champion Gary Anderson 6–3 in sets in a match that will be remembered as one of the tournament’s classics. The contest swung repeatedly in momentum, highlighted by a remarkable moment when both players hit a “Big Fish” 170 checkout in the same set, a rare occurrence on the World Championship stage. Van Veen matched Anderson’s experience with fearless scoring and held his nerve in the decisive phases, closing out the match to secure the biggest win of his career.
After reaching the final, the Dutchman summed up the improbability of his run with striking honesty: “It’s not even a dream come true because I wasn’t able to dream about this.” For van Veen, the final represents entirely new territory; it is his first appearance at this stage of the championship.
The contrast between the finalists is clear. Littler arrives as the defending champion, carrying the pressure and expectation that come with a bid for a second consecutive title. Van Veen steps onto the Alexandra Palace stage with nothing to defend, buoyed by a breakthrough semi-final that combined history, resilience and belief.
As the championship reaches its conclusion, the narrative is finely balanced between continuity and emergence. A Littler victory would cement his status with back-to-back world titles, while a van Veen triumph would crown a new champion on debut. Either outcome will mark a defining moment in the modern era of darts.
