Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen are set to write to latest chapter of their engrossing rivalry when they face off in the World Darts Championship final on Friday.
The pair have been the two outsanding players this year at Ally Pally and cruised through their semi-finals to set up a blockbuster final which has all the makings of a potential classic.
But there is more than just the Sid Waddell Trophy and a £500,000 winners cheque on the line as the best player of his generation takes on the sport’s hottest new star.
For Van Gerwen, who did not win a televised title last year for the first time since 2011, a fourth world championship would serve as a timely reminder of the Dutchman’s enduring talents.
Victory for Littler, meanwhile, would see the 17-year-old become the youngest-ever world champion – a record currently held by Van Gerwen when he won at Ally Pally back in 2014 aged 24.
As the pair prepare to do battle, here’s a look back at their burgeoning rivalry over the past year.
Breaking through in Bahrain
Following his remarkable run to the World Championship final last year, Littler headed straight to Bahrain to make his World Series debut.
And it was a tournament to remember for the teenager who hit a nine darter in his first leg against Nathan Aspinall en course to reaching the final.
That final would pit Littler up against Van Gerwen for the first time in their repsective careers, with Littler storming to a sensational 8-5 victory to claim his first senior PDC title.
All to play for in the head-to-head record
Later that month Van Gerwen would get his revenge, downing Littler in the final of the Dutch Masters to deny the teeanger a second successive World Series title.
Since then, the pair have faced off a further ten times – predominantly in the Premier League – with the head-to-record now level at 6-6 ahead of tonight’s final.
Van Gerwen edged their contests in the Premier League, winning four of seven bouts, but it was Littler who had the last laugh as he claimed the overally title with a win over World No.1 Luke Humpries at the 02 Arena in May.
Luke Littler vs Michael van Gerwen: Head-to-head
Bahrain Darts Masters: Luke Littler 8-5 Michael van Gerwen
Dutch Masters: Luke Littler 6-8 Michael van Gerwen
Premier League Berlin: Luke Littler 5-6 Michael van Gerwen
Premier League Newcastle: Luke Littler 5-6 Michael van Gerwen
Premier League Nottingham: Luke Littler 6-2 Michael van Gerwen
Premier League Belfast: Luke Littler 6-3 Michael van Gerwen
Premier League Manchester: Luke Littler 6-3 Michael van Gerwen
Premier League Birmingham: Luke Littler 3-6 Michael van Gerwen
Premier League Leeds: Luke Littler 1-6 Michael van Gerwen
World Matchplay: Luke Littler 6-10 Michael van Gerwen
World Series Finals: Luke Littler 11-4 Michael van Gerwen
European Tour Championship: Luke Littler 6-1 Michael van Gerwen
Later in the year, Van Gerween showed his class to knock Littler out in a mouthwatering first-round encounter at the World Matchplay.
However, once again, Littler would get his revenge, knocking out the 35-year-old in the semi-finals of the World Series Finals with a spectucular 107.95 average en route to take the title.
Their most recent contest came in October this year, with Littler running out a convincing 6-1 winner on the European Tour.
Respect between the two
While the two have traded the occasional jibe, both players have also been more than praisworthy for the other’s talent.
‘I think he’s great. What he’s done for the sport is great. Fair play to him,’ Van Gerwen said before Friday’s final..
‘Television and social media is big which helps him. It’s good for darts in general. I don’t mind.
‘There was no social media when I was 17. Time moved forwards. Sport moves on. Whoever you are, sport moves on.
‘Of course everyone talks about him but that’s what England does with there heroes. That’s what the Netherlands should do as well.’
Littler, meanwhile, who was only six when Van Gerwen won his first world title, has grown to respect the Dutchman’s abilities and is certain he will be around at the top of the sport for a while yet.
Away from the oche: Luke Littler’s family life
Still only a teenager, Littler has largely kept many elements of his personal life away from prying eyes.
The teeanger has one sister and brother and is regular supported at events by his parents, Lisa Littler and Anthony Buckley.
Last year at Ally Pally, Littler was supported by his then-girlfriend Eloise Milburn but the pair have since ended their relationship.
Away from the stage, Littler’s huge profile has also afforded him numerous sponsorship opportunities, with the 17-year-old already securing partnerships with major companies like Xbox, boohooMAN, and KP Nuts.
And his new-found fortune has also allowed him to move in with his parents into a £6,000-a-month five-bed mansion in Warrington where he grew up.
‘As I got older, I watched darts more and more,’ Littler recently said.
‘The first one [Van Gerwen match] I remember was the 2017 final when he beat Gary [Anderson].
‘He’s been around for years and years and I’m sure he won’t change for anyone.’
But that mutual respect may not extend to a friendly game on Friday night, with Littler expecting to receive the cold shoulder from Van Gerwen on stage.
Asked whether there will be any first pumps on stages between the pair, Littler shook his head, laughed and replied: ‘Noooooo…
‘There will be no fist bumps after sets, I’m pretty sure. Of course, it’s the final and we’ve both got to stay focused.’
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