Luke Littler’s bid to win back-to-back World Series titles was thwarted by Michael van Gerwen in the Dutch Darts Masters final in Den Bosch.
In the final held in Bahrain last weekend, three-time world champion Littler lost to the 17-year-old 8-6. With nothing to separate the sides after the first 12 rounds, Littler missed two darts at double eight, breaking up van Gerwen’s throw and leaving him just one step away from another title.
This means a lot to him🇳🇱💚
Michael van Gerwen won the 2024 TOTO Dutch Darts Masters Championship and lifted his 21st World Series Championship Toon Greebe Trophy! 👏 pic.twitter.com/GL0q3WpMHu
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 27, 2024
Instead, van Gerwen pushed a leg away and needed a chance to score 85 and end Littler’s winning streak.
Littler kicked off his campaign on Saturday by seeking revenge on Luke Humphries, who spurned him in the world final at Alexandra Palace last month. Littler fought back from 4-2 down to knock off the Bulls with 88 points for a dramatic 6-5 win.
The Warrington man then beat Gerwyn Price 7-4, who missed out on a nine-dart win over Kevin Doets in the quarter-finals Won Double Twelve and returned to the World Masters finals. In contrast, Van Gerwen struggled in consecutive wins over Raymond van Barneveld and Gian van Veen, but stepped up at crucial moments.
Van Gerwen told ITVX: “That’s what people like to see – he puts a lot of pressure on me. Luke Littler is going to have a bright future, we all know that, but you still have to be happy with him Do the right thing. His scoring ability is so strong, you have to keep fighting.”
