Luke Littler, the 17-year-old darts prodigy, became the youngest PDC World Darts Championship winner on January 3, 2025, defeating Michael van Gerwen 7-3 at Alexandra Palace. In a post-match interview with talkSPORT, Littler shared a candid moment from the emotional aftermath, revealing van Gerwen’s playful yet poignant words: “He said ‘enjoy it,’ and then when we went over to the side, he was like ‘keep crying boy, keep crying’.” The comment, made as Littler teared up, highlighted their mutual respect and competitive spirit.
The Moment and Its Context
Littler’s victory, sealed with a double 16, saw him break van Gerwen’s record as the youngest world champion, previously set at age 24 in 2014. Overwhelmed, Littler roared and cried, embracing his family and van Gerwen on stage. The Dutchman, a three-time champion, initially offered a congratulatory “well done” before his lighthearted jab, noting Littler’s emotional display. Van Gerwen later praised Littler’s talent, saying, “Every 17 years, a star gets born, and he is one of them. He deserves it.” Littler’s clinical finishing, with a 56% doubles success rate and 102.73 average, outshone van Gerwen’s 37% doubles hit rate despite a higher 112.19 average.
Van Gerwen’s Sportsmanship
Despite the 7-3 loss, van Gerwen showed class, acknowledging Littler’s dominance: “Every moment he got to hurt me, he did.” The “keep crying boy” remark, far from malicious, reflected their growing rivalry and camaraderie, evident in van Gerwen’s playful Instagram post pretending to “strangle” Littler with the caption, “This is not gonna happen again. Fantastic game by @LukeTheNuke180.” Littler, now world No. 2, leads their head-to-head 7-6, with their 13th clash in the final underscoring a fierce but respectful competition.
Broader Implications
Littler’s emotional response and van Gerwen’s words resonate with young athletes like Coco Gauff, facing tennis pressure, or Emma Raducanu, navigating scrutiny. Fans on X celebrated the moment, with one post noting, “MVG’s banter with Littler shows darts is heart and soul” (@DartsFanatic, January 4, 2025). Littler’s triumph, earning £500,000 and the Sid Waddell Trophy, cements his meteoric rise, but van Gerwen’s quip serves as a reminder of the sport’s emotional and competitive intensity. As Littler eyes the 2025 Premier League, their rivalry promises more iconic moments.
