Littler’s clinical semi sets up final with gritty Gian van Veen

Luke Littler and Gian van Veen, who qualified together for the world youth final in Milton Keynes in August 2023, will meet again after contrasting semi-final wins. Littler, the swaggering, vaping 18-year-old, presented the image of inevitability: clinical, confident and uncompromising.

Van Veen, the softly spoken 23-year-old with a degree in aviation engineering and a history of doubt and recalibration, has reached this stage by battling through pressure and setbacks. Littler beat Ryan Searle 6-1, averaging 105.4, winning 20 of 28 legs and averaging more than 100 in every set.

It takes him into his third straight world final and follows a run that includes six major titles in the past 12 months. Van Veen produced one of the greatest semi-finals at Alexandra Palace, defeating Gary Anderson 6-3 after a gruelling match in front of the Ally Pally crowd. He led 4-1, converted 12 of his first 15 attempts at doubles and erupted with emotion at the finish.

Anderson averaged 103, hit 14 maximums and went 46% on doubles but still lost 6-3. The fifth set featured a sequence of high-class legs — 10, 11 and 12-darters and two 170 finishes — and is being hailed among the best played under the roof. Van Veen is exceptional on doubles — the best on tour by almost three percentage points — but is less prolific with 180s and remains untested over a best-of-13 format.

Key Topics

Sports, Darts, Luke Littler, Gian Van Veen, Gary Anderson, World Championship