Prince of Darts Luke Littler, 16, arrives at Ally Pally ahead of bid to fire himself into the history books as youngest-ever World Dart Champion – with fancy dress-clad fans lining up round the block after desperate scramble for ticket…
Teen sensation Luke Littler has arrived at London's Alexandra Palace ahead of his World Cup final against Luke Humphries.
The 16-year-old will make history by becoming the youngest ever finalist and capturing the attention of the sporting world with his dazzling performances on the oche over the past two and a half weeks.
'Luke the Nuke' arrived at the venue alone just before 5pm, wearing a black hooded jacket and gray backpack, before quickly heading inside to prepare for the big event which could see him raise £500,000 to win.
Regardless of the outcome, Littler will leave Alexandra Palace on Wednesday six figures richer, claiming a prize of £200,000 for reaching the final, or half a million for winning it against number three seed Humphries, 28.
Fans have been pouring into the capital all day, with pictures showing darts enthusiasts donning their finest costumes as they down the pints to warm up for the match, which is expected to start at 8.30pm.
'Luke the Nuke' arrived at the venue alone just before 5pm, wearing a black hooded jacket and gray backpack, before quickly heading inside to prepare for the big event
Regardless of the outcome, Littler will leave Alexandra Palace on Wednesday six figures richer and claim a prize of £200,000 for reaching the final, or half a million for winning it against number three seed Humphries, 28
Darts fans pictured outside a pub near Alexandra Palace
Fans ahead of the final between Luke Littler and Luke Humphries
Fans are flocking to London's Alexandra Palace ahead of tonight's World Darts Championship final
Fans have started drinking ahead of a historic final that could see the youngest ever world champion crowned
Many darts enthusiasts have dressed up for the big night at Alexandra Palace
Photos show fans donning their best fancy dress as they down the pints to warm up for the big match
Fans have flocked to Alexandra Palace in a number of different costumes for tonight's final
A group of fans dressed as leprechauns wait outside Alexandra Palace
One man wears a 'stand up if you love the darts t-shirt' as he stands next to his friend
One wears a T-shirt that says 'darts & beer, that's why I'm here' as he gets into the mood nice and early at a nearby pub.
Others are dressed in Christmas-themed suits, or as life-size traffic cones, as they prepare for what could be a historic sporting moment.
It comes after DDesperate fans trying to get a seat at the last minute caused the Professional Darts Corporation's ticket-powered website to crash this morning.
A message appeared: 'We are currently processing the maximum number of bookings we can process at one time'.
The PDC site stated that there were 'no resale tickets available for this event'. Come back later.'
Meanwhile, traders are trying to sell tickets for as much as £1,170 on viagogo. For the final they originally sold for £81 for a table seat and £71 for a tiered ticket.
Tickets go on sale for the first time in the summer and sell out quickly. Many have resorted to begging for tickets on social media – with one even saying he was 'selling organs for a World Darts Championship final ticket'.
Those who panicked for tickets at the last minute admitted it was a gamble as they made pleas online.
“Please help a man,” one fan asked.
One claimed he had seen tickets for £350, describing it as 'crazy'.
While many looked for a chance to see the final, others used it as an opportunity to cash in on their own tickets.
Messages from people saying they are selling their tickets for the final are also pouring in.
'Got four dart tickets for Ally Pally for the final tonight. £85 each,” one person wrote.
Those who panicked for tickets at the last minute admitted it was a gamble as they made pleas online.
“Please help a man,” one fan asked.
One claimed he had seen tickets for £350, describing it as 'crazy'.
While many looked for a chance to see the final, others used it as an opportunity to cash in on their own tickets.
Messages from people saying they are selling their tickets for the final are also pouring in.
'Got four dart tickets for Ally Pally for the final tonight. £85 each,” one person wrote.
A last-minute scramble for tickets to see 16-year-old Luke Littler play Luke Humphries
Luke Littler celebrates semi-final victory against Rob Cross on day fifteen of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace
Luke Littler (left) met Luke Humphries (right) in the Hayling Island quarter-final in November 2019. The pair will face each other tonight in the final of the World Darts Championship
Many are using social media to sell their tickets for the final
Littler can't help but smile as Rob Cross congratulates him on his semi-final win
Luke Littler roars as he hits a final double-10 to claim victory over Rob Cross
Humphries, who has played against the youngster in the past, has admitted he will 'probably have to play the game of my life' to beat the challenger, who has set the darts world on fire with his skill and his humility. equally.
The world number one booked his place in tonight's final with a 6-0 win over Scott Williams.
After his semi-final win, Littler confirmed that on the day of the final he would eat a ham and cheese omelette for breakfast, and pizza for lunch.
He told Sky Sports: 'I've just settled for that podium (in darts). It takes myself a few legs to get into a game, but once I find that rhythm I'm good to go.”
Asked how he will keep a cool head in tonight's final, he added: 'I just have to stay focused for the whole game, no matter how long it takes.
'(In the final I do) what I've been doing: go for my ham and cheese omelette in the morning.
“Come in here, eat my pizza, and I'll be on the board, that's what I've done every day.
'If my game is there, it is there. I threw well again and crossed the line again.'
Before Litter won his semi-final against Rob Cross, the previous youngest World Cup finalist was Kirk Shepherd, who was 21 years and 88 days in 2008.
The youngest winner is Michael van Gerwen, who was 24 years and nine months when he won his first title in 2014.
Litter's rise to fame had led to calls for the final to be shown by free-to-air broadcasters.
The Liberal Democrats' culture and sport spokesman, Jamie Stone, said on Tuesday evening it would be “disgraceful” if the 16-year-old's match was not shown on free-to-air television.
However, Sky Sports confirmed today that it has not received any offers from free-to-air broadcasters to show the final.