Luke Littler trashed Michael van Gerwen in the final of the 2024-25 PDC World Championship and the Dutchman is out for revenge at Alexandra Palace, stoking the flames of their rivalry early
Darts star Michael van Gerwen has fired Luke Littler a brutal warning ahead of the upcoming PDC World Championship. Van Gerwen, who Littler comfortably beat in the 2025 final, claims that ‘everything is easy’ for the 18-year-old because he still ‘lives with his mum’.
The Dutchman, 36, is twice Littler’s age and explained how his life away from the oche has affected his profession over the years. Van Gerwen was also a hotshot, becoming the youngest World Championship winner aged 24 in 2014.
Having been usurped earlier this year, Van Gerwen could earn the chance to get revenge on Littler during the 2025-26 edition at Alexander Palace. When it comes to Littler’s long-term career, though, Van Gerwen has warned his teenage rival that the toughest days are way ahead of him.
“[Littler] lives with his mum and everything is easy for him. He doesn’t have a family, he has no responsibilities, everything’s fine,” Van Gerwen told the Guardian. “But when you start to face real life then things are changing. You have to deal with new things in life then.
“It’s not going to be smooth for the rest of his life. I want to see when he has kids, how he’s going to deal with that. Darts is in a really good place at the moment.
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“Social media is bigger than ever. The television coverage is good. So [Littler] does really well for himself and can play himself into financial independence in the next few years. He also did well for darts so far.”
The dad-of-two revealed last month that it’s been the most difficult time of his life. Van Gerwen recently divorced wife Daphne after more than 10 years of marriage while his father, Henri, is battling cancer.
“[Has he changed as a person due to traumas?] A lot,” he admitted. “Maybe it’s better to say it has not changed me as a person – but it has changed my way of thinking.
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“It has made me understand what’s most important in life. It has to be family. Of course I love darts but I love my kids much more. Before, when I didn’t have kids, it was easier.
“Darts was always my number one. Then, when I had kids, darts was not my number one any more. You have to try to balance things a little better.”
Van Gerwen kicks off his World Championship campaign on Thursday, facing Mitsuhiko Tatsunami of Japan in the first round. Littler, also on the opening night, will play Darius Labanauskas.
Not only is the prestige of being heralded as the world champion on offer, but also a record-breaking £1million jackpot. That’s double what Littler received in January.
Watch the World Darts Championship on Sky Sports
The PDC World Darts Championship gets underway on December 11 and fans can watch every match exclusively live with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.
