Luke Humphries and Luke Littler have both been high on the agenda in future world champion conversions. It was a final for the future that has unexpectedly become one for the present, and whoever prevails will turn inevitability into actuality in one of the most anticipated yet youngest finals the sport has ever seen.
There is one absolute guarantee ahead of a fascinating finale to a tournament filled with fairytale stories and dramatic moments – one of the greatest young talents the sport has ever developed will fulfil their destiny and etch their name into the history books as the PDC’s twelfth world champion.
Two players who have plied their trade on the Development Tour and subsequently become world youth champions meet in a final that Rod Harrington will be extremely satisfied in witnessing. He was the founding father of that circuit and a pioneer in nurturing the stars of tomorrow.
Humphries dominated the Development Tour, stepped up and sealed his maiden ranking title, before flourishing into the force that he’s turned into through his prosperousness on the European Tour. Now, he’s a three-time major champion, the world number one and the favourite to capture the sport’s biggest prize.
Standing in his way is a teenage sensation who has captured the world’s attention and could become the first player to be world junior champion, world youth champion and the actual world champion at the same time, as well as the youngest and first unseeded winner. Something that has been a figment of the imagination since he was a toddler could soon be reality for Littler, who has the world at his feet.
His achievement over the last fortnight has been astounding irrespective of his age. Someone without tour card status, with very minimal experience on the professional tour has made the sport’s biggest tournament look like child’s play.
An array of darts aficionados were well aware of the extraordinary talent that Littler has been blessed with, having witnessed him rule the roost in the Modus Super Series and win historic tournaments such as the British Open and Welsh Opens on the WDF circuit. However, no one expected him to dazzle on debut in quite the same style he has done.
Littler has recorded an astounding 101.82 tournament average en route to the title decider – something which has only been exceeded by Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson down the years. In addition, he’s posted four ton-plus averages in six matches. For context, Michael Smith needed nine matches to register his first ton-plus average and Gerwyn Price has only ever clocked five in his World Championship career.
A campaign that commenced with a record-breaking debut average in the opening round has seemingly had no ending. His undeniable scoring power and equally adequate accuracy in the doubling department has been spectacular, although eclipsing all the glitz and glamour has been a 16-year-old who has displayed levelheadedness, composure and board management beyond his years.
There were elements of doubt ahead of his semi-final against 2018 champion Rob Cross because Littler had been somewhat favoured by fortune, however, those questions were answered in resounding fashion. His double ten hitting in particular was so accomplished that on one occasion he threw a single 16 for that target instead of taking aim at double 18 – because his composure allowed him to.
Littler recorded a remarkable 106 average, 16 maximums and finishes of 142 and 149 as well as a champagne shot using two bullseyes and a double 16, though, Humphries outshined that display with a sheer darting masterclass in sweeping aside Scott Williams. His 108.74 was the second-highest semi-final average in the tournament’s esteemed history.
Humphries has the same aura of invincibility surrounding him that Michael van Gerwen has been renowned for when young guns have attempted to knock him off his mantle in years gone by. He’s enjoying an 18-match winning streak that has shown few signs of being unsettled.
His wobbles against both Ricardo Pietreczko and Joe Cullen – which were influenced by his point snapping in the practice room – are no longer in his rear-view mirror. His dominance has been restored with back-to-back frightening performances – the calibre you’d expect from a potential world champion-in-waiting.
Something extraordinary is going to be required to hack down a fearless teenager without battle scars, but if there’s anyone capable of doing that it’s the newly-minted world number one. His grit and determination has been behind his newfound supremacy, and those influential aspects could be the decisive factors in his quest for the Sid Waddell trophy.
Expect a final in which the treble beds are persistently peppered. If there’s one component this tournament has lacked, it’s a nine-darter, and it would be rather apt for one of these heavy-scoring titans to provide the vacating Russ Bray and his legendary gravelly voice with one last moment to cherish before bowing out.
Prediction: 7-5 Humphries
