Luke Littler reveals what Michael van Gerwen told him after World Darts Championship victory
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Luke Littler lifted the lid on what Michael van Gerwen told him after his historic victory in the World Darts Championship final on Friday evening. Having come up short in last year’s final on debut, Littler returned to Ally Pally a year on as the favourite after a remarkable first year in the sport.
![[DARTS-GBR-WORLD]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2191729502.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
And the 17-year-old made no mistake this time, coasting to a superb 7-3 victory over the World No.3 van Gerwen to claim the Sid Waddell trophy and the £500,000 winners cheque. It was a darting masterclass from the Nuke who stormed into a 4-0 lead courtesy of some clinical finishing on the outer ring.
![[DARTS-GBR-WORLD]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2191729768.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Van Gerwen, a three-time world champion in his own right, put up a valiant resistance but was no match for Littler who eventually pinned D16 for the first time in the match to win the world title. The teenager was immediately overcome with emotion, letting out a huge roar before being reduced to tears as the enormity of his achievement began to sink in.
Littler was immediately congratulated by Van Gerwen after his victory, with the new World No.2 revealing afterwards what the Dutch star whispered in his ear following his win. ‘(Straight) after, I think he said ‘well done’ but when we were on the side, obviously he’d seen me crying and he was like: ‘Keep crying boy, keep crying’.’.
Asked about Van Gerwen’s performance in this tournament, Littler added: ‘He deserves quite a lot of respect for this World Championships. ‘Obviously everyone was looking at me and Luke Humpries but if you look at Michael’s side of the draw it wasn’t easy and it wasn’t easy for myself.
