Defining Performances, Elite Collisions and a Final for the Record Books

The closing stages of the 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship delivered clarity under maximum pressure. Breakthrough performances met established excellence, standards rose session by session, and the tournament concluded with a final that reset historical benchmarks. 
Gian van Veen’s assured progression established the youngest final in World Championship history, before Luke Littler responded with control, precision and composure to complete a landmark defence of the Sid Waddell Trophy. 

Away from the oche, the significance of the occasion was clear. Figures from across sport and entertainment were present to witness the championship at its peak, reinforcing the stature of the World Championship as one of the game’s premier sporting events. Only the Alexandra Palace  could provide a setting worthy of the moment.

QUARTER-FINALS

New Year’s Day Precision, Pressure & Semi-Final Places Secured

The quarter-finals opened 2026 with performances that reshaped careers and confirmed title intent.

Gian van Veen 5–1 Luke Humphries
Van Veen delivered a defining performance. Averaging 105.41 and recording 11 maximums, the Dutchman controlled tempo, capitalised on key moments and eliminated the world number two with authority to reach his first World Championship semi-final.

Luke Littler 5–0 Krzysztof Ratajski
Littler asserted control early and never released it. A 170 checkout proved decisive in the opening set before sustained scoring and clinical finishing ensured a straight-sets victory that underlined the champion’s focus.

Ryan Searle 5–2 Jonny Clayton
Searle advanced to his maiden semi-final with measured execution. His long run of consecutive sets ended, but decisive finishing including a crucial 111 checkout proved the difference when pressure peaked.

Gary Anderson 5–2 Justin Hood
Anderson’s experience told late on. After Hood remained competitive through sustained finishing, the two-time champion won nine of the final ten legs to conclude the debutant’s impressive run.

Key Session Insights
• 180s: 61
• Highest Checkout: 170 (Van Veen, Littler)
• Highest Average: 105.41 (Van Veen)

SEMI-FINALS

Control Under Fire and a Final Secured

Friday night delivered execution at the highest level and a final few expected twelve months earlier.

Luke Littler 6–1 Ryan Searle
After conceding the opening set, Littler responded decisively. Ten consecutive legs followed, supported by his third 105+ average of the tournament. At 18, he became only the second player after Phil Taylor to reach three World Championship finals in his first three appearances.

Gian van Veen 6–3 Gary Anderson
A semi-final of exceptional quality. Van Veen absorbed sustained pressure, including a fifth set where both players recorded 170 checkouts and Anderson averaged over 117. Composure in the closing stages secured Van Veen’s place in a historic final.

Key Session Insights
• 180s: 39
• Highest Checkout: 170 (Searle, Van Veen, Anderson)
• Highest Average: 105.35 (Littler)

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Littler Retains the Sid Waddell Trophy

Luke Littler 7–1 Gian van Veen
Best of 13 Sets

Saturday night at Alexandra Palace delivered a moment of lasting significance. Under the brightest lights and with history firmly in focus, Luke Littler overcame Gian van Veen to become the sport’s first £1 million World Champion and only the fourth player to successfully retain the Sid Waddell Trophy.

The occasion also marked the conclusion of a defining era, as John McDonald brought his World Championship announcing career to a close. For generations, his voice has framed the sport’s most important moments, and it was fitting that his final introduction accompanied a night of genuine historical weight.

A championship decided. A legacy acknowledged. The World Championship closed with clarity and purpose.

Final — Set by Set

Set One – Van Veen Leads (3–2)
Van Veen set the early standard. A 116 checkout and a 12-darter capitalised on missed opportunities from Littler to take the opener.

Set Two – Littler Levels (3–2)
Van Veen threatened to move 2–0 ahead with successive 145 and 127 finishes, but a missed double allowed Littler to recover with legs of 14 and 12 darts and a composed 116 checkout.

Set Three – Control Shifts (3–1 Littler)
A pivotal set. After a 13-dart opener from Van Veen, Littler responded with a 112 finish, an 11-dart break and a decisive 170 checkout.

Set Four – Authority Established (3–0 Littler)
Three consecutive 15-dart legs widened the gap. Littler offered no opportunities and extended his momentum.

Set Five – Resistance Checked (3–1 Littler)
Van Veen halted the run with a tops-tops 137, but Littler immediately responded to restore control.

Set Six – Sustained Pressure (3–0 Littler)
Back-to-back maximums and relentless scoring prevented Van Veen from settling as Littler moved within two sets of history.

Set Seven – Closing the Door (3–0 Littler)
Van Veen threatened with early perfection, but Littler closed decisively with an 11-dart break.

Set Eight – Championship Secured (3–1 Littler)
A 14-dart hold brought Littler to the brink before a 147 checkout sealed the title — his 16th maximum of the final.

Key Final Insights
• 180s: 25
• Highest Checkout: 170 (Littler)
• Highest Average: 106.02 (Littler)

FINAL WORD

From Gian van Veen’s measured rise to Luke Littler’s composed authority on the sport’s biggest stage, the 2025/26 World Championship delivered performances that will define the modern era. Alexandra Palace once again proved capable of testing the very highest standards under pressure.

The future of the sport is clear and it is already performing at the highest level.

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