Luke Littler: PDC World Championship final and a hint of immortality for the teenager

‘The Nuke’ wasn’t in a slump, but he wasn’t at his best either.

His check-out accuracy was off. Doubles were elusive. He faltered in the last 16 and lost 4–3 to unseeded Ryan Joyce.

But, when it mattered, Littler drew accuracy from the quiver.

It is a matter of concern for the opposition that they too have started searching for their happy place.

“No nerves to be honest,” he said after beating Nathan Aspinall 5-2 in the quarter-finals.

“I’m playing with full confidence, with freedom.”

The semi-final was barely a speedbump for Stephen Bunting Littler’s blistering pace. His average of 105.48 in the 6-1 defeat of the world number five is his highest in this year’s competition.

Now, Michael van Gerwen stands between Littler and Dart’s biggest prize, with a £500,000 payday.

The Dutchman is the youngest ever PDC World Champion, having won the title in 2014 at the age of 24.

That period was defined by Van Gerwen’s torch-passing feud with his titan, Phil Taylor, a rivalry that gave rise to super-charged darts and saw him claim three world titles.

Littler is the beneficiary, but he added another story to the building.

He is already, by some distance, the most famous darts player in the world. Will he become the best player now?