Tonight at London's Alexandra Palace, a historic chapter in darts history will be written as the sport's two brightest young stars collide in the PDC World Championship final. The reigning world champion, Luke Littler, faces the current world youth champion, Gian van Veen, in a showdown that defies conventional sporting narratives.
A Final of Youthful Prodigies
This is not the classic tale of an ageing champion versus a young challenger. In a remarkable twist, the defending champion is five years younger than the youth champion. Littler, at just 18, is already a veteran of the sport's biggest stage, having sensationally won the world title last year at 17. He now aims to become the first player since Gary Anderson in 2016 to retain the Sid Waddell Trophy.
His opponent, the 23-year-old Dutchman Gian van Veen, holds the world youth title. Their combined age of 41 makes this easily the youngest world championship final in history. The rivalry is well-established, tracing back to a thrilling 6-4 victory for Littler in the 2023 world youth final in Minehead.
Road to the Ally Pally Showdown
While Littler has taken a meteoric shortcut to the pinnacle, reaching the final in his first two appearances and winning it last year, Van Veen's path has been different. Despite his obvious talent, he entered this year's tournament having never won a match at Alexandra Palace, with previous defeats to Man Lok Leung and Ricardo Pietreczko.
However, 2025 saw a shift in their head-to-head dynamic. Van Veen edged their meetings this year, winning three of their five encounters (Littler 2-3 Van Veen). This recent record proves he will not be intimidated, even when facing Littler's famed 'beast mode' on the oche.
A Rivalry Defining a New Era
Many anticipated this final match-up, though perhaps not so soon. Their progression signals a seismic shift in the sport, with a new generation forcefully claiming centre stage. The final represents the culmination of a journey that began in youth tournaments, now elevated to the most prestigious setting in darts.
The players are scheduled to walk on stage at 8.15pm GMT tonight at a packed Ally Pally. Whether Littler solidifies his status as a sporting phenomenon or Van Veen claims the ultimate prize, one thing is certain: the future of darts has emphatically arrived.
