Sam Hart previews the World Darts Championship Final between Michael Van Gerwen and Luke Littler
The World Darts Championship Final is upon us. Sam Hart here for Betting Radio to preview the big one from the Alexandra Palace on Friday, 3rd of January.
Mighty Michael Van Gerwen vs Luke The Nuke Litter. What a final we have in store, and if we were to pick potential finals looking at each side of the draw, this would have been one we could have lined up as a potential finish to the tournament.
Michael Van Gerwen
Michael Van Gerwen has played some of his best darts, as I mentioned in some of my previous previews. He looks back to the old Van Gerwen, and the player who won this tournament three times. He is a seasoned pro in these major finals, and we have to take that into consideration coming into this final. His averages improved match on match leading up to his semifinal match against Chris Dobey. He looked like he would continue this upwards curve for the tournament when dominating the first two sets with 106 and 107 averages in those sets. He just played down to the struggles that Chris Dobey was having on the stage, and it was nowhere near the level we expected from Hollywood, despite him being the underdog. Look, Van Gerwen won the match 6-1, which is so difficult to do in a World Championship semifinal. We were teased multiple times with six perfect darts to try and find that third nine-darter of the tournament, but it couldn't quite happen. I mentioned that Van Gerwen dropped off the pace due to Dobey’s performance, and I do feel he steps it up when put under pressure. I mentioned in the quarter-final preview that when an opponent throws a 180, he has the tendency to throw one back. He threw close to a 99 average and had a 43% double strike rate in his semifinal. Michael said after his match, “The title is still far away, and I want to keep battling.” He is going to need to do so to beat his opponent.
Luke Littler
That opponent will be Luke Littler, who, a bit like Van Gerwen, routed his opponent Stephen Bunting 6-1 in his semifinal. It probably didn’t deserve to be the scoreline it is despite Litter playing well. Bunting did miss some key opportunities at his doubles that could have changed the whole dynamic of the match. The opportunities that Bunting had won’t be missed by MVG in the race to seven in Friday’s final. Luke Littler has been throwing some ridiculous averages, though, and that double ten has been ridiculously good as always to the seventeen-year-old. That 84 checkout in set six from Littler on the bull is what just cemented his place in the final, I feel. He will need to pull out plenty of these big finishes to get through Van Gerwen. I think the whole of the UK will be tuning in to cheer on the Litter, and he would become the youngest winner of the tournament since Van Gerwen won his first at the age of twenty-five.
Prediction
I feel this could be the moment for Luke Litter and I think he will take this final, despite Van Gerwen leading the head-to-heads 3-2. Littler has been priced up by Skybet at 4/11 with Van Gerwen at 9/4. I like the look of over 11 sets in this final and I am also going to put up a nine darter in this final from two players who have teased it all tournament. No prices at the time of recording on those later two bets, but hopefully this bet builder can pay off.
I’ve really enjoyed previewing this tournament and hope you all enjoy what should be an incredible final at the Alexandra Palace. Do look out for some of the other great previews we have here on Betting Radio. Until then, please gamble responsibly and enjoy the upcoming weekend.