Luke Littler goes back to back at the PDC World Darts Championship and wins £1million with crushing 7-1 final demolition of Gian van Veen

Luke Littler is the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship champion. The 18-year-old sealed a second successive world title in devastating fashion at Alexandra Palace, closing out a 7 1 victory over Gian van Veen with a sensational 147 checkout that perfectly summed up his dominance on the biggest stage in the sport.

Alongside the Sid Waddell Trophy, Littler pockets a record breaking £1 million after one of the most one-sided finals in recent memory.

From the opening exchanges, Littler set a pace that Van Veen simply could not live with for sustained periods. The Dutchman produced moments of real quality, including multiple ton-plus finishes and several near-perfect starts, but every missed double was punished immediately by a champion operating at an unforgiving level.

As the match wore on, Littler’s grip tightened. Long spells of relentless scoring saw him win 13 of 14 legs at one stage, repeatedly threatening the nine-darter and forcing Van Veen into near-perfect darts just to stay in contention.

The turning point came midway through the contest when Littler reeled in a stunning 170 checkout to move ahead. From there, the final increasingly felt like one-way traffic.

The final was not without its moments of chaos. A wasp interruption briefly halted play, while later a blood-marked dartboard forced referee George Noble to replace the board in what was his final appearance at a World Championship. None of it rattled Littler.

Even after pauses and missed chances at perfection, the world champion returned to the oche with the same cold focus, repeatedly starting legs with four or six perfect darts and maintaining relentless pressure on Van Veen’s throw.

By set eight, Littler was firmly in sight of history. He opened with a 180, immediately signalling there would be no easing off. Van Veen briefly found a smile and a leg on double top, but it only delayed the inevitable.

Littler moved to the brink after wiring double fifteen for a 150 attempt, returning moments later to clean up and stand one leg away from the title.

Then came the finish worthy of the occasion.

With the match on the line, Littler produced a stunning 147 checkout to seal the championship in emphatic style, sparking celebrations around Alexandra Palace as the reality of back-to-back world titles set in.

The statistics told the story of Littler’s superiority. A three dart average north of 107, heavier scoring throughout, more maximums, and the biggest finishes when they mattered most.

Van Veen can reflect on a breakout run to the world final and flashes of brilliance under the brightest lights. Littler, though, leaves Ally Pally having delivered a performance that felt both historic and inevitable.

At just 18, Luke Littler is now a two-time world champion, a record breaker, and the undisputed force of modern darts.