Luke Littler has reached the World Darts Championship final for the second year in a row after defeating Stephen Bunting in the last four.
The 17-year-old will face three-time champion Michael van Gerwen in a dream final at Alexandra Palace on Friday after ‘The Green Machine’ eliminated Chris Dobey.
Littler headed into this year’s event as the favourite after bursting onto the scene 12 months ago with a stunning runner-up finish to Luke Humphries.
‘The Nuke’ is now hoping to go one step further and clinch his first World Darts Championship title after seeing off fellow fan-favourite Bunting.
‘It’s been an amazing tournament so far,’ Littler told Sky Sports after his 6-1 victory over Bunting.
‘I don’t know [what’s changed over the last 12 months]. I’ve played a lot better. I’ve won plenty of titles leading up to this. That’s what we do. There are majors all year around and I can’t wait for tomorrow night.’
It was ‘The Bullet’ who looked nailed on to win an enthralling opening set – averaging 113.35 to Littler’s 105.92 – but the teenager narrowly came out on top against his 39-year-old opponent to move ahead.
Bunting was still averaging more than Littler in the second set with 102 overall, but he was 1/10 on doubles and was ultimately punished again.
Before Bunting knew it, Littler went 4-0 up as ‘The Nuke’ started to completely dominate the semi-final showdown at Ally Pally.
Bunting needed to produce something special to get himself back into the match – and after winning the fifth set to make it 4-1 – he had the chance to win two sets in a row but missed crucial darts for Littler to then lead 5-1.
It meant Littler eventually got the job done 6-1 and is now set for a mouth-watering showdown with Dutch star Van Gerwen.
Quizzed about facing Van Gerwen in the final, Littler added: ‘If we both turn up like we did tonight, it will be really good. As soon as Luke Humphries went out, that’s what everyone was looking at but I had to focus on the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
‘Now I’ve done that, I can focus on Michael tomorrow. We all know he’s hunting for a fourth world title. I’m hunting for my first.’
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