Michael van Gerwen’s bid to avenge his painful World Championship Final defeat was dashed yet again, this time by the rising star Luke Littler. The Green Machine, who had suffered a crushing defeat at Ally Pally just three weeks ago, was hoping for redemption in front of a passionate home crowd at the Dutch Darts Masters in Den Bosch. However, Littler proved too strong, delivering a display that saw the world champion unable to find his rhythm.
Van Gerwen’s defeat in the World Championship Final was still fresh in his mind, and the 35-year-old was desperate to make amends in his homeland. The packed arena in Den Bosch hoped to see a repeat of Van Gerwen’s triumph in this event last year when he overcame Littler in the final. But this time, it was the teenage sensation who stole the show.
The match started off poorly for Van Gerwen, with Littler racing into an early 3-0 lead. Despite missing several doubles, Littler kept the pressure on the Dutchman, whose struggles on the outer ring were evident. Van Gerwen managed to claw his way back into the match, but he was fortunate to level the game at 3-3. As Van Gerwen admitted after the match, he was “lucky” to be at that point, acknowledging that the scoreline could easily have been 6-0 in Littler’s favour.
However, even after his brief rally, Van Gerwen’s performance remained below his usual high standards. The defending champion could not maintain the momentum, and Littler quickly regained control, turning up the intensity to secure a 6-3 victory. For Van Gerwen, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. “I played terrible,” he said in an interview with Viaplay. “This performance was not acceptable. I was really focused all day and wanted to win this trophy so much. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t get them when I wanted them.”
Littler’s victory continued his impressive run of form and marked another milestone in his meteoric rise in the darts world. The teenager’s performance demonstrated maturity beyond his years, as he kept his composure under pressure and sealed the win in style. For Van Gerwen, the defeat was a harsh reminder of the work still to be done as he attempts to reclaim his dominant form.
The loss not only saw Van Gerwen miss out on the Dutch Darts Masters crown, but it also marked the end of his reign as the World Series champion. Despite the disappointment, Van Gerwen’s focus will now turn to future events as he looks to bounce back and prove that his performance in Den Bosch was nothing more than an anomaly. For Littler, though, this victory is yet another sign that he is one of the most exciting talents in darts.
