Luke Littler wins second straight World Darts Championship defeating Dutchman Gian van Veen

Luke Littler has won his second straight World Darts Championship, triumphing over Dutchman Gian van Veen.

Littler, 18, lost the first set at Alexandra Palace but roared back with seven straight sets to win the coveted title in back-to-back years.

It was the teenager's third final in a row, having lost to Luke Humphries in 2024 when he was just 16 years old.

Littler, nicknamed 'the Nuke', lost just four sets across the whole tournament in an utterly dominant display over the festive period.

Littler, quoting two-time world champion boxer Anthony Joshua, said: "The first time was so nice, I had to do it twice."

The win means the 18-year-old becomes just the fourth back-to-back champion alongside Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson. He is also the first man to retain his Ally Pally title since Anderson a decade ago.

As a player who has lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy twice in just three attempts, he extends his advantage as world number one after making a groundbreaking impact on the sport.

He is also the first winner of the £1m prize pot awarded to the victor.

Van Veen becomes the new world number three, despite falling just short in his quest to follow in the footsteps of countrymen Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen by winning the World Championship.

Littler paid tribute to Anthony Joshua, who survived a fatal car crash in Nigeria on Monday. He told Sky Sports Darts: "Everyone knows what happened with Anthony Joshua and his guys and his team, rest in peace to his friends.

"But just like AJ said: 'the first time was so nice, I had to do it twice!'"

He said he started playing better from the second set. "I said to myself, 'give it time, you will find it'. I started off from the left of the oche and moved over to the right. It all came to plan.

"Gian, what a tournament, he can be very happy. Every set he was there and behind me. I had to take my chances."

Read more from Sky News:
Littler defends darts title
Paul Lim makes darts history

Littler reeled off an incredible seven sets on the spin to become a back-to-back champion and keep himself firmly on top of the world.

Van Veen was disappointed that he was unable to give Littler a real game.

"Luke wasn't in the mood to give me any more chances today. He played phenomenal.

"I would have liked to lift up the title, but I would have liked more to give Luke a game, and that's what I didn't do.

"I lost too many legs while I wasn't involved. I missed too many chances. But you know, looking back at this tournament, I'm very proud... getting even to the final."

(c) Sky News 2026: Luke Littler wins second straight World Darts Championship defeating Dutchman Gian van Veen