World Darts Championship final live: Score and latest updates from Luke Littler v Gian van Veen – UK Times

A reminder of what’s at stake here tonight, beyond darts history: record prize money.

A fun one from The Adam Clery Football Column, comparing darts, football and pro wrestling – centred on Luke Littler’s shifting relationship with the Ally Pally crowd and how Wayne Rooney fits into the puzzle…

Read Adam’s full column here:

This week Littler revealed that he had eye surgery as a child to repair strabismus, a condition commonly known as cross eye, where the eyes do not align.

It was an operation his parents wanted and it has paid dividends as the teenager now has treble-20 vision and is the best darts player in the world.

Gian van Veen spoke movingly about his journey to the top of darts after beating Gary Anderson in an epic semi-final yesterday.

“I struggled with dartitis for many years,” said Van Veen. “I had it about four years ago just before I got my tour card.

“Even back then when I wasn’t struggling, I never thought this would happen. To be in a World Championship final, is not even a dream come true because I wasn’t able to dream about this but now it’s happened.

“Now look at me four years later. It’s all been worth it.”

Littler believes he will be able to stand alongside the giants of the game if he wins a second successive World Championship title this evening.

Should he beat Van Veen, he will become the first man to win back-to-back titles since Gary Anderson a decade ago.

The 18-year-old Littler is dominating the sport in the same way Phil Taylor did for the best part of 20 years and Michael van Gerwen did during the mid-2010s.

“Obviously in their primes, they were just absolutely unbelievable. I was watching it as a kid,” Littler said.

“With what I’ve done, I can near enough say I’m playing just as well, with the titles, the averages, the amount of nine-darters on TV.

“Maybe if I win tomorrow, then I might be on the same level.”

If Luke Littler does become champion this evening – and it is going to take something special to stop him – he would collect a record £1m prize.

“It’s a massive prize, but it’s the trophy on the stage, it’s not the money,” he said after beating Ryan Searle. “I’m repeating myself, but ever since the Grand Slam I have just said I want to go back-to-back.

“So hopefully I can lift the trophy again and think about the money after.

“It feels great, not many people have done it, the first three World Championships reaching the final.

“I have joined a short list of people doing that. Now obviously the only goal is to join the list of people going back-to-back champions.”

The future, it seems, is now. The 2026 World Championship final will not only showcase the very best that darts currently offers but also give a tantalising glimpse of a rivalry that could dominate the sport for years to come.

Luke Littler – teenage darting phenom, reigning world champion, transcendent star who has made the sport cool again – and Gian van Veen – coming Dutch force, reigning two-time world youth champion, scourge of Luke Humphries – will do battle on the Alexandra Palace stage for the right to hold aloft the most famous trophy in darts.

Littler knows exactly what that feels like, having made history with his World Championship triumph 12 months ago at the age of 17, while Van Veen is trying to break new ground.

This could be the first major chapter in a rivalry to match the likes of Taylor vs Van Barneveld, Lowe vs Bristow or Van Gerwen vs Wright.

Read a full preview of this evening’s final:

Littler and van Veen will face off in the final of the 2026 World Darts Championship at 8pm GMT on Saturday 3 January.

The match will be best of 13 sets.

Viewers in the UK can watch the final on Sky Sports Darts and Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage from 7.30pm GMT, and walk-ons from approximately 8.15pm.

The final of the World Darts Championship will see 18-year-old star Luke Littler bid to defend his title against another one of darts’ most formidable young talents, Gian van Veen.

The pair could ignite a generational rivalry at Alexandra Palace and there will be £1,000,000 on the line.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the 2026 World Darts Championship final where Luke Littler takes on Gian van Veen.

Littler is gunning for a second straight world title, while Van Veen is in his first final. Stick with us for all the action