Luke Littler reaches a second successive World Darts Championship final after 6-1 demolition of Stephen Bunting to set up mouth-watering Michael van Gerwen clash

World domination awaits Luke Littler on Friday night if the teenage prodigy can beat Michael van Gerwen in an all-ages final as the Prince of Alexandra Palace takes on his three-time king.

Littler reduced Stephen Bunting to a shambles on Thursday evening, via a 6-1 victory in which he achieved 13 maximums, a 170 finish and an overall average of 105.48. ‘The Nuke’ is now another enchanting evening after receiving a £500,000 check and the Sid Waddell Trophy.

Named after the late commentator, we can only imagine how Waddell would have described Littler today, but it’s worth leaning on his iconic line from Eric Bristow’s 1984 coronation. ‘When Alexander of Macedon 33 he cried salty tears because there were no more worlds to conquer,’ said the wordsmith. “Bristow is only 27.” As if anyone needs reminding: Littler is 17.

He would be the youngest champion in history and it is fitting that Van Gerwen is the current record holder in the PDC era. He was 24 when he won the first of his three titles in 2014, and ‘Mighty Mike’ also won 6-1 in his own semi-final with Chris Dobey last night.

Littlermania is real: Ally Pally punters are enjoying every second of his performance here. It was serious yet playful, with Littler routinely joking with the audience between throws. He feels comfortable up there, more than when he finished second to Luke Humphries in the final last year.

Comparing this year’s run to the last, Littler said, “I played better. I’ve won a lot of titles leading up to this. I can’t wait. If we both show up like we did tonight, it’s going to be really good.”

A typically raucous Alexandra Palace enjoyed the celebrations as teenage Littler reached his second final in a row

The pre-tournament favorite will face Dutch maestro Michael van Gerwen on Friday evening

Bunting is one of the most likable guys on the circuit and the 39-year-old Liverpudlian felt the love from the crowd as he belted his walk-on tune of David Guetta’s Titanium back to him. But the 2014 BDO Darts Championship was a losing battle from the start.

Bunting did little wrong in the opening set – he averaged 113.35 – and still trailed 1-0 after failing to check 92. Littler landed double 10 to secure that lead, which ended there with death and taxes in his grasp. inevitability.

The second set was sloppier, with only one maximum hit as neither man averaged a ton-plus, but Littler extended his lead to 2-0. At 4-0 Littler were fully in charge, although Bunting at least avoided the outrage of a whitewash when he reduced it to 4-1.

With a rosy finish, Littler made it 5-1, and with a 170 finish he helped himself to victory, securing his place in the final for the second year in a row.

Van Gerwen waited six years to take this title for a third time – too long for someone of his skills – and it was with relative ease that he dismissed Dobey.

Van Gerwen’s only mistake in his 6-1 win came afterwards in his on-stage television interview with Sky Sports, when the three-time champion dropped the F-bomb as he said: ‘I haven’t won everything yet. .’ Otherwise this was effective, efficient and oh so simple for MvG.

Dobey never actually showed up. His name was certainly on the scoreboard, and the £100,000 check from the PDC makes him look like he’s in a match. But he actually wasn’t.

It was an illusion, as false as the excuses that will be made by Ally Pally customers who call in sick to work this morning. Van Gerwen started this match with a 180 and never looked back. His average of 98.84 wasn’t his highest, but it didn’t need to be, as he said: ‘I didn’t play as explosively as in the last game. I’m only in the final. I’ve already won everything.’