Luke Littler and Gian van Veen storm into World Darts Championship final

Luke Littler and Gian van Veen surged into the final of the 2025/26 World Darts Championship courtesy of epic wins over Ryan Searle and Gary Anderson on Friday.

The two box office stars will face off for darts’ first £1m prize at Alexandra Palace after producing blistering performances to set up a date with destiny.

Defending champion Littler became only the second player after Phil Taylor to make the World Championship final in their first three appearances in the competition.

The world number one romped to a 6-1 rout of Searle courtesy of his third average above 105 at the tournament, crashing in ten maximums in the process to remain on course for back-to-back world titles.

Searle took the opening set, but the 18-year-old replied in trademark brutal fashion, taking the next two sets before winning ten consecutive legs to blitz into a 5-1 lead.

It took a 12-dart leg and 170 checkout from Searle to stop the rot in the seventh set, but this proved futile as the teenager cleaned up a set-deciding leg to book his spot in yet another World Championship final, after winning six consecutive sets.

“It feels good to reach the final, I’ve joined another short list of names of players who have had back-to-back-to-back finals,” said Littler, as only Taylor, Dennis Priestley and Gary Anderson have ever achieved the feat.

“Now, the only goal is to join the list of people who are back-to-back World Champions.

“I’ve got every right to think I can do it, but I never, ever say that I am going to win it. We will just see how the darts go.

“I know Gian very well from the Development Tour, we have met a few times on the ProTour and I got the win over him in Minehead in my first World Youth Championship [final in 2023].

“He is in absolute freedom, he’s now in the top four of the world – I don’t think he has much to lose.”

Van Veen secured a spot in his maiden World Championship final after prevailing in an incredible battle against Anderson, toppling the Scottish icon 6-3 with an average of 103.

Despite Anderson winning the first set, the Dutch number one rallied in remarkable style, winning four straights sets which included three set-deciding legs.

The fifth set in particular proved one of the greatest of the tournament to date. Anderson began with a ten-dart break before crashing in a 170 checkout, before Van Veen hit a 170 of his own and snatched the deciding leg – despite the Scot averaging over 117 across the set.

Incredibly, Anderson threatened a comeback by winning the next set with a 12-dart finish on the bull, and then capitalised in a set-deciding leg to reduce the deficit to 4-3.

However, the 23-year-old recovered, taking the next two sets and winning the match with a 13-darter to book his place in Saturday’s showpiece.

“I enjoyed every single second of it, I’m still pinching myself,” admitted Van Veen, who had not won a game at Ally Pally before this tournament in his two previous appearances.

“My first ever dream was to be in the World Championship, I wasn’t dreaming about getting to a final – it feels amazing.

“It was a fantastic game, Gary played so well. I’m so relieved I got the job done.

“I’m very confident I can lift the trophy. I’m feeling really good on that stage. It was a very long game and I still averaged 103.

“Everyone knows what Luke is capable of. I need to bring out my A-game tomorrow, or else it’s going to be a very difficult game.”

Littler, 18, and 23-year-old Van Veen will do battle for the Sid Waddell Trophy and record-breaking £1m top prize on Saturday evening, in what is the youngest-ever PDC World Championship final.

World Darts Championship 2025/26 Semi-Final Results

Friday January 2

Luke Littler 6-1 Ryan Searle
Gian van Veen 6-3 Gary Anderson