Summary

  • Luke Littler will play Gian van Veen in PDC World Darts Championship final on Saturday

  • Defending champion Littler beats 20th seed Ryan Searle 6-1 to reach third successive World Championship final

  • Van Veen defeats two-time champion Gary Anderson 6-3 in high-quality semi-final

Send us your darts views

Send us your views. We will only ever publish a first name.

  1. Littler to meet Van Veen in 2026 world finalpublished at 23:15 GMT 2 January

    From 128 to the final two.

    Will Luke Littler become the back-to-back champion? Or will Gian van Veen beat him in his first final?

    We will find out tomorrow when the two meet on the Alexandra Palace stage. Our live text coverage will begin at about 19:00 GMT.

    For now, I'll leave you with Sam Drury's take on tonight's semi-finals.

    Luke Littler shakes hands with Gian van VeenImage source, Getty Images
  2. 'Everyone knows what Littler is capable of'published at 23:12 GMT 2 January

    Result: Van Veen 6-3 Anderson

    More from Gian van Veen to Sky Sports, on being the third Dutch player to reach the final: "Of course my idol was Gary Anderson, but everyones idols as a Dutchman are Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld, that's probably going to sink in in the next couple of days but I'm just going to enjoy it."

    On facing Littler: "Everyone knows what Luke Littler's capable of, I'm really looking forward to that game, but first of all I'm going to enjoy this victory."

    On the crowd: "The crowd got behind Gary, they were whistling and booing, it maybe cost me one set - but I made it 5-3 and with that 59 finish I showed myself I can do it under the pressure."

  3. 'It's not even a dream coming true, I wasn't able to dream of this'published at 23:09 GMT 2 January

    Result: Van Veen 6-3 Anderson

    Gian van Veen smilesImage source, Getty Images

    Gian van Veen, speaking to Sky Sports after reaching his first World Championship final:

    "Gary threw everything at me. I felt comfortable up here. Of course the crowd are against me but it's fair enough, Gary is such a great player.

    "Ten years ago or five years ago, whatever it was, [I was] struggling playing darts. I remember three or four years ago I was in Barnsley at the Metrodome struggling with dartitis and crying at a table. Now look at me four years later. It's all been worth it.

    "All the people who have worked so hard for me, even my parents when I was 12 or 13 driving me everywhere in the Netherlands to all the tournaments. It's all been worth it because here we are - unbelievable."

    On his dartitis struggles: "As everyone knows, I've struggled with dartitis for many years, I never thought this was going to happen. It's not even a dream coming true, because I wasn't able to dream about this."

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 23:05 GMT 2 January

    Use the 'Send us your darts views' button on this page

    World Youth final opponents and then World Championship final opponents! You couldn't make it up! Revenge for Van Veen or Littler's reign will be well and truly established - either way it should be a cracker!

    Rob

    Got a feeling Littler v Van Veen is going to be the new Taylor v Van Barneveld rivalry for years to come.

    Jake

    The best semi-final ever, ever, ever!

    Mark

  5. Postpublished at 23:03 GMT 2 January

    Result: Van Veen 6-3 Anderson

    Gary Anderson embraces Gian van VeenImage source, Getty Images

    It ends 6-3, but the stats show how close it was.

    An average of 102.99 for Gian van Veen, 102.91 for Gary Anderson.

    11 180s from Van Veen, 14 from Anderson.

    A 55% checkout rate for Van Veen and a 45.45% for Anderson makes the difference.

  6. Postpublished at 23:00 GMT 2 January

    Result: Van Veen 6-3 Anderson

    Beating Gary Anderson means Gian van Veen is guaranteed to become world number three.

    Should he win the title tomorrow, he will move above Luke Humphries to second in the rankings.

  7. Postpublished at 22:55 GMT 2 January

    Result: Van Veen 6-3 Anderson

    Victory this evening means Gian van Veen has guaranteed at least £400,000 of prize money for himself from this tournament. The winner will receive £1m.

    This evening's losers get £200,000.

  8. Postpublished at 22:52 GMT 2 January

    Result: Van Veen 6-3 Anderson

    Wayne Mardle
    Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

    Something Gian van Veen would've been dreaming about since he was a boy.

    An absolute worldy of a game, and it sets up a mouth-watering game against Luke Littler in the final.

  9. Postpublished at 22:51 GMT 2 January

    Result: Van Veen 6-3 Anderson

    20:15 GMT tomorrow, the PDC World Darts Championship final. Luke Littler v Gian van Veen.

  10. Van Veen reaches World Darts Championship finalpublished at 22:50 GMT 2 January
    Breaking

    Result: Van Veen 6-3 Anderson

    Gian van Veen celebratesImage source, PA Media

    What a performance from Gian van Veen to reach the final.

    He has 32 left to win the match and gets it with his first dart.

    What a game that was. Gruelling. One of the greats.

    It'll be Van Veen against defending champion Luke Littler in tomorrow's final.

  11. Van Veen throwing for a place in the finalpublished at 22:49 GMT 2 January

    Van Veen 5-3 Anderson (2-2)

    Gary Anderson comes so close to another finish on the bullseye, going for a 126 but straying into the outer bull.

    Gian van Veen takes out 25 to win the leg. Van Veen will now throw for the match.

  12. Postpublished at 22:48 GMT 2 January

    Van Veen 5-3 Anderson (1-2)

    Gary Anderson is now throwing for the set...

  13. Postpublished at 22:47 GMT 2 January

    Van Veen 5-3 Anderson (1-2)

    Wayne Mardle
    Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

    That is spectacular. It's absolutely brilliant from Gary Anderson.

  14. Postpublished at 22:47 GMT 2 January

    Van Veen 5-3 Anderson (1-2)

    Gian van Veen has just thrown two 180s in a leg. Gary Anderson wins that leg.

    A 121, finishing on the bullseye, after Van Veen misses double 16 twice.

  15. Postpublished at 22:47 GMT 2 January

    Van Veen 5-3 Anderson (1-1)

    Wayne Mardle
    Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

    Gian van Veen knows all he has to do is hold throw twice.

    Of course, it's not that simple.

  16. Postpublished at 22:46 GMT 2 January

    Van Veen 5-3 Anderson (1-1)

    Gary Anderson nearly takes out a 170, but hits the 25 with his third dart.

    He can't take out the 25 on his next visit, but gets double four next time around and wins the leg in 16 darts.

  17. Postpublished at 22:44 GMT 2 January

    Van Veen 5-3 Anderson (1-0)

    Gary AndersonImage source, PA Media

    That was a big chance for Gary Anderson.

    He misses three darts at double 16 to break Gian van Veen's throw. The Dutchman responds by checking out double 10.

  18. Postpublished at 22:43 GMT 2 January

    Van Veen 5-3 Anderson (0-0)

    Gary Anderson must win the next three sets. It would take something special.

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:40 GMT 2 January

    Use the 'Send us your darts views' button on this page

    Can we just have one more month of World Championship darts?!

    Lewis, Chelmsford

  20. Van Veen wins deciding leg to move one set from the finalpublished at 22:38 GMT 2 January

    Van Veen 5-3 Anderson (3-2)

    Gian van Veen is down at 98 after nine darts and doesn't check out. 59 after 12.

    But it doesn't matter and he deals with it in his next visit. Single 19, double 20. Van Veen is one set from the final.