Luke Littler dissolved into tears after conquering the world at 17 years of age.

In a blistering display, Luke the Nuke beat Michael van Gerwen 7-3 to win his first PDC World Championship title at Alexandra Palace - and revealed he had a premonition it would happen. Littler said: “No-one knows this, but I watched the whole of the 2024 final against Luke Humphries back earlier, and I had visions of this.

"If I end 2025 with nothing else, I’ve picked up the big one. I can't believe it. Honestly, I can’t believe it. I needed to get off to a quick start and that’s what I did.

“Since the winning double I’ve been walking around the stage telling myself I’ve won it and it’s mine. To be youngest champion is special - even if it didn’t happen tonight I knew I would get another opportunity bu too get this job done is amazing.

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“I settled well and didn’t feel any nerves. To win first set was crucial and when I went 4-0 up I could start believing.” Littler, who banks a whopping £500,000 prize money, is the youngest darts world champion in history, shaving seven years off Van Gerwen’s previous record.

He turns 18 on January 21 and it should be one hell of a party. And just three days into 2025, he has already been installed as 6-4 favourite to win Sports Personality of the Year.

Littler hit double 10 like the catnip of potting free-kicks from 25 yards and he added: “I was practising tops and double 10 backstage because I knew I had to hit them. “Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy. That first game against Ryan Meikle, I keep saying it, that's the game that really mattered. I just settled after that.”

*Littler also lifted Paddy Power’s Ballon d’Art trophy for the most 180s in the tournament (76) and the title sponsor will donate another £1 million to Prostate Cancer UK.