Luke Littler sent a stern message to rivals Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen after being crowned the 2024 World Series of Darts champion. On a night where he was at his sublime best, Littler dispatched of MVG 11-4 in his semi-final, setting up a clash with Michael Smith.

The 2023 world champion was hammered by the same scoreline, with Littler picking up his second major PDC title after winning the Premier League this year on his tournament debut.

Few can deny Littler merited his latest triumph, edging past Ross Smith (6-5) in the first round before impressing as he beat Raymond van Barneveld (6-4) and Chris Dobert (10-7) to make the final four.

Humphries, who exited the tournament in Amsterdam after a dramatic 10-9 quarter-final defeat to Van Gerwen, remains the world No.1. But afterwards, Littler was asked if he feels he's currently the world's best player.

"Probably over this weekend," he replied, before outlining how good his form had been at the AFAS Live arena. "To average 103 over four or five matches, it has been really good and I'm proud of myself."

In contrast, his two big rivals were erratic over the weekend, and produced an error-strewn last-eight clash which saw Van Gerwen miss nine match darts before finally sealing victory. But Littler also insisted he wouldn't be getting complacent as the countdown to the next PDC World Championship in December begins.

"I'm very happy to win. To come here and win on my debut is a good feeling," he added. "I'm playing well so I will go back home and practice even more. There is no time to sit about, it's a busy winter coming up.

"Everyone wants to win everything but I've learned you can't do that. I would like to win another major. I want the worlds as anyone else does but another major would mean the world."

Littler, 17, also picked up £80,000 for being the eventual winner. This season's event saw a record amount of prize money available for the 32 participants.

Littler only arrived in Netherlands ranked No. 22 in the world, but will be among the favourites at Ally Pally after his stunning debut last year. He embarked on a remarkable run to the final, where he was beaten by Humphries in an epic final.

The two have since developed an intense rivaly at the oche. They met again in the Premier League final, with Littler getting a measure of revenge for his defeat in London by prevailing 11-7.

Luke Littler's meteoric rise in the darts world

Luke Littler bagged himself another £80,000 pay day as the Manchester United-supporting darts sensation goes from strength-to-strength with tungsten in hand. The 17-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric 10 months after he went all the way to the PDC World Championship Final on debut at the Ally Pally in January.

Since then, his breakthrough on the global darting stage has continued at a staggering rate. The Runcorn thrower won his fourth TV title already - the World Series Of Darts - on Sunday night.

After beating Michael van Gerwen along the way to that showpiece, Littler reigned supreme in Amsterdam with victory over 2023 world champion Michael Smith. In doing so, the teenager pocketed £80,000, growing his net worth by over 10 per cent to £700,000 - and he could even become a millionaire before his 18th birthday.

Littler does not reach that milestone until January 2025 - after the next World Championships are held. He was beaten by Luke Humphries in an exhilarating PDC showpiece at the Ally Pally in January 2024, but soon put that minor disappointment behind him to win the Premier League at the first attempt.

Littler, who was born in Runcorn and now resides in Warrington, famously supports United and a Premier League win remains his biggest success to date. However, the player affectionately nicknamed 'The Nuke' is widely tipped as a world champion in the making - a tag many insist he will claim sooner rather than later.

The 17-year-old took home a cheque for £200,000 for finishing as runner-up to Humphries at the worlds, while his Premier League triumph was worth a further £275,000. He earned £40,000 for his nightly winnings en route to the trophy, which he picked up by beating Humphries at London's O2 Arena.

Added to various other PDC wins and prizes, Littler is said to have amassed a net worth of £650,000-plus. Beyond that, 'The Nuke' has almost instantly become one of the sport's most popular and marketable figures.

Littler's rise from Development Tour to World Champion

Luke Littler continued his growth as one of darts' best over the weekend by winning the World Series of Darts Finals in the Netherlands.

The 17-year-old was top seed for the tournament after wins in Bahrain and Poland. He made it a hat-trick of successes in Amsterdam by defeating Michael Smith on Sunday and averaged 102.21.

Littler also overcame Michael van Gerwen (11-4) and Raymond van Barneveld, as well as Chris Dobey (10-7) and Peter Wright, to secure the £80,000 top prize. "I'm just happy to be stood here with the trophy at the end of a long day," he said.

"I felt relaxed tonight and I played really well across the whole weekend. This time last year I was playing on the Development Tour. My name was getting mentioned but at the World Championship everyone knew who I was.

"I'm going to keep building on this and winning more. It's a busy schedule coming up and I'm ready for it." Asked if he is currently the best darts player in the world, Littler said: "Probably over this weekend.

"To average 103 over four or five matches, it has been really good and I'm proud of myself."

After his success in Europe, Litter admitted that he no longer idolises Van Gerwen and Van Barneveld. The Manchester United fan, who grew up in Warrington, previously declared his admiration for the two, calling them his childhood idols.

"I wouldn't say I look up to them as I'm playing with them now," Littler said. "I used to look up to them and now I'm beating them."

Littler's Future is Bright

TEENAGE superstar Luke Littler declared “this is just the start” after sensationally storming to the Jack’s World Series of Darts Finals title on debut in Amsterdam on Sunday night, defeating former World champion Michael Smith 11-4 in the final.

It was 17-year-old Littler’s fourth TV crown in an unprecedented first year as a professional.

Littler - beaten finalist in the World Championship in January at Alexandra Palace at the age of just 16 - hammered home favourite Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals, winning 11-4 with a 107.95 average.

“I’m just happy to be stood here with the trophy at the end of a long day,” said Littler, who takes home the £80,000 top prize.

“I felt relaxed and I played really well across the whole weekend.

“This time last year I was playing on the Development Tour; my name was getting mentioned but at the World Championship every knew who I was.

“I’m going to keep building on this and winning more; it’s a busy schedule coming up and I’m ready for it.”

Derryman Daryl Gurney was best of the Irish, going down 10-4 to Peter Wright in the quarter-finals.