Luke Littler's World Darts Championship rival Michael van Gerwen reveals why he will REFUSE the 17-year-old's mid-match rituals in tonight's final due to darts players' 'disgusting' habit
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Michael van Gerwen is set to refuse one of Luke Littler's mid-match routines when the pair face off during Friday's World Darts Championship final, having revealed ahead of the tournament that he finds the habit 'really disgusting'. The Dutchman, who is now one match away from claiming his fourth world title, soared past Chris Dobey with a 6-1 victory in the semi-finals on Thursday night.
![[Littler, 17, will become the youngest champion in history if he triumphs over the Dutchman]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/03/09/93703579-14246523-image-a-2_1735896796114.jpg)
Meanwhile, 17-year-old sensation Littler, who was defeated by Luke Humphries in last year's final, cruised through his last four challenge against Stephen Bunting, winning by the same score as Van Gerwen. Littler has made a habit of shaking hands with his opponents and even embracing them en route to Friday's showpiece final at the Ally Pally, doing so with both Nathan Aspinall and Bunting in the last two rounds.
![[The youngster has made a habit of shaking hands with opponents between sets on the oche]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/03/09/93703585-14246523-image-a-9_1735898312630.jpg)
Van Gerwen revealed ahead of the tournament why he chooses not to partake in the hand-shaking ritual, keen to avoid physical contact with his opponents on the oche. 'You have a lot of players who have rituals,' he told the Darts Draait Door podcast in December. 'Before the match they lick their entire hand. You really have a lot of them. I find that really disgusting.'.
![[Littler regularly embraced Stephen Bunting (right) during his superb 6-1 win in the semi-finals]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/03/09/93703573-14246523-image-a-3_1735896801158.jpg)
Michael van Gerwen (above) is eyeing his fourth world title against Luke Littler in Friday's final. Littler, 17, will become the youngest champion in history if he triumphs over the Dutchman. The youngster has made a habit of shaking hands with opponents between sets on the oche.
![[Nathan Aspinall also shook hands with and embraced the teenager during their quarter-final]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/03/09/93703569-14246523-image-a-4_1735896986889.jpg)
