Luke Littler is once again at the center of the darts world, and the Alexandra Palace faithful are bracing themselves for a Saturday night showdown that promises drama, fireworks, and perhaps a slice of history. The 18-year-old sensation surged into his third consecutive PDC World Championship final on January 2, 2026, with a commanding 6-1 victory over Ryan Searle. Littler, who has become a household name in darts circles, is now on the brink of achieving something that hasn’t been done in a decade: back-to-back world titles.
The numbers from Littler’s semi-final are jaw-dropping. He averaged 105.35, hit 10 180s, and maintained a clinical 58.8% checkout rate. Searle, making his first semi-final appearance, put up a valiant fight—snatching the opening set with some sharp finishing—but Littler’s relentless scoring and precision on the doubles soon proved too much. The teenager’s unbeaten run at Alexandra Palace now stretches to 12 matches, and he remains undefeated in major ranking tournament semi-finals, boasting an 11-0 record.
“I’m very happy with tonight – the doubles, the finishing, the high-scoring. It could have been a bit better but I’m happy to make it three consecutive finals [at the World Championship],” Littler told BBC Radio 5 Live after dispatching Searle. He added, “I missed a few doubles but I’m happy with 50-odd percent or whatever it was. Hopefully we can do a bit more tomorrow.”
Littler’s journey to the final has been nothing short of spectacular. Since first entering the World Championship as a 16-year-old, he has reached the final every year—losing to Luke Humphries in 2024 before clinching the title over Michael van Gerwen in 2025. If he can triumph on Saturday, he’ll join the exclusive club of players who have won consecutive world titles, a feat last achieved by Gary Anderson in 2015 and 2016.
But Littler’s path hasn’t been entirely smooth. The teenager has faced his share of criticism and even hostility from the crowd, notably enduring boos during his last-16 win over Rob Cross. Littler, however, has shown remarkable composure in the face of adversity. “I’m not bothered. Really not bothered. Can I say one thing? You guys pay for tickets and you pay for my prize money. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Come on!” he quipped after that match, according to Sky Sports.
The crowd’s reaction has sparked a fierce defense from Littler’s mother, Lisa, who took to social media to call out critics and support her son. She didn’t mince words, responding to online abuse with, “So they buy tickets with their hard earned money to sit there like t**ts and boo (thumbs up emoji).” Her spirited replies became a talking point among darts fans, highlighting the pressure and scrutiny that come with Littler’s meteoric rise.
Family support has been a constant for Littler throughout the tournament. During his walk-on for the semi-final, he embraced his parents, Anthony Buckley and Lisa Littler, and shared a kiss with his girlfriend Faith Millar. The star-studded crowd at Alexandra Palace included not only his loved ones but also friends like Morgan Burtwistle (recently crowned I’m A Celeb King of the Jungle) and musician Lewis Capaldi, adding to the electric atmosphere.
As for Ryan Searle, his run to the semi-finals is nothing short of inspirational. The 38-year-old, who suffers from Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy—an eye condition that sometimes prevents him from seeing where his darts land—has defied expectations. His performance in the tournament has propelled him to a career-high world No. 8 ranking. Despite the loss, Searle’s resilience and determination have won him plenty of admirers.
“Big shout to Ryan, he has done amazing this tournament, he can be proud,” Littler said in his post-match interview. It’s a sentiment echoed by many in the darts community, who recognize the grit required to battle through such adversity on the sport’s biggest stage.
On the other side of the draw, Dutch sensation Gian van Veen produced a semi-final for the ages, defeating two-time world champion Gary Anderson 6-3. Van Veen, just 23 and the reigning Youth World Champion, is only the third Dutchman to reach the PDC World Championship final, following in the footsteps of Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen. His performance against Anderson was nothing short of electric, with both players averaging just shy of 103. Van Veen even notched a set average of 113.35 and delivered a crucial 170 checkout to keep the pressure on the Scottish veteran.
“To be in the World Championship final is not even a dream coming true because I wasn’t able to dream about this,” Van Veen told Sky Sports, his disbelief palpable. “Now it’s happened and I’m so happy.” Notably, Van Veen had never won a match at the World Championship prior to this tournament, making his run to the final all the more remarkable.
Anderson, who claimed back-to-back world titles in 2015 and 2016, appeared set for another final when he took early leads in several sets, but Van Veen’s resilience and scoring power ultimately turned the tide. The Dutchman’s victory ensures a fresh face in the final, and with a record prize of £1 million ($1.35 million) on the line, the stakes have never been higher.
Saturday’s final, scheduled for 20:00 GMT, will see Littler and Van Veen go head to head for the Sid Waddell Trophy and a place in darts history. Littler, already world No. 1, is the odds-on favorite, but Van Veen’s fearless run has shown he’s more than capable of springing a surprise. The final will be played over the best of 13 sets, and with both players in red-hot form, fans are in for a treat.
As the stage is set for a blockbuster conclusion to the 2026 PDC World Championship, all eyes are on Alexandra Palace. Will Littler secure his place among the legends with a second straight title, or will Van Veen cap his fairytale run with a maiden crown? One thing’s for sure—the world of darts is about to witness a final for the ages.