Luke Littler became the youngest player ever to reach a PaddyPower PDC World Darts Championship Final.

The JDC and World Youth Champion defeated the 2018 World Champion Rob Cross 6-2, to follow in Cross’ footsteps to reach the final on debut.

He will play Luke Humphries in the showpiece match, as the new world number one whitewashed surprise semi finalist Scott Williams in the second semi final. It’s also the youngest combined age for a World final, and the first time the match will be contested by two players to have won the PDC World Youth Championship.

Littler creates more history

This was the toughest match on paper for Littler so far in the event, but he passed another test with flying colours as he’s been doing all of the World Darts Championship.

The first set went the distance, but Cross held on 32 to put Littler behind for the first time in the tournament. Voltage then broke in the third leg, but missed a set dart on the bull in the fourth. This allowed Littler to break back on double 12, before holding on 74 to equalise.

The Nuke then broke in the first leg of the third, before two holds including an outstanding 142, gave him the lead in sets for the first time. The third leg of the fourth set saw Cross miss bull for a 126 to break, allowing Littler to pop a stunning 149 checkout to hold. The set eventually went the distance, but The Nuke hit double 16 for a 11 darter to move halfway to the final.

Littler then broke in the first leg of the fifth, but missed three to go 2-0 up, allowing Cross to produce a stunning 138 to level. Both then held, but Littler missed a set dart at tops in the deciding leg, allowing Cross to finish 60 and halve the deficit to 3-2.

The sixth set went on throw for the first three legs, before The Nuke won leg four on double ten to move two sets in front again. Voltage won the first leg of the seventh, but The Nuke reeled off three straight legs to move one away.

The Nuke completed victory in the eighth set, which fittingly went the distance, as he found his beloved double 10 on an 80 outshot to take his place in the final. He hit 16 180s en route to a staggering 106.05 average.

Humphries sees off Williams to become world number one

After winning three of the previous four TV events, including the World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals, Humphries was the pre tournament favourite coming into the PaddyPower World Darts Championship. Just like yesterday, he produced a stunning performance to show why.

The first set went the distance, but Humphies took out 57 to go ahead. 38 darts later, including a 121 and 136 finish, Cool Hand doubled his advantage, having an average of 113.02 after the first two sets.

The third set again went all the way. Shaggy missed bull for a 123, allowing Humphries to ping the bull for a 126, after hitting The Big Fish 170 outshot in leg one of the set and get halfway to victory. The pair went the distance in the fourth set once more, and again both missed set darts, but eventually Cool Hand pinged double two to go 4-0 in front.

That seemed to break Williams’ heart, as Humphries averaged 122 to win set five 3-0 and move one away. The sixth set saw two breaks to start, before Williams bust his score on 126 in the third leg. Cool Hand, on 210, then hit a 180, and after Shaggy missed bull for the 126, he hit double 15 to break. The following leg, he hit double 10 for the 11th whitewash in PDC World Darts Championship semi final history, hitting a 108.7 average in the process and hitting 14 180s.

PaddyPower PDC World Darts Championship Semi Final Results

Tuesday 2 January 2024

Evening Session (1930 GMT)

2x Semi Finals

Luke Littler 6-2 Rob Cross
Luke Humphries 6-0 Scott Williams

PaddyPower PDC World Darts Championship Final

Wednesday 3 January 2024

Final (2000 GMT)

Luke Littler v Luke Humphries