03 January 2024 , 10:22
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Luke Littler will compete in the PDC World Championship final - despite being too young to attend the event without a guardian.
Littler, 16, will compete for darts' biggest prize at the Alexandra Palace on Wednesday night after a stunning run to the final. The man standing in the teenage sensation's way is Luke Humphries, the new World No.1 who has won 18 games on the bounce.
Although Littler has defied the odds to reach the final, he's actually too young to attend the event on his own. According to the Professional Darts Corporation's rules, all attendees at the Ally Pally under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
"We ask that all parents/guardians are comfortable with the nature of the event before bringing children and that all under-18s are accompanied by at least one adult from their household or support bubble," reads guidance on the PDC's website.
Littler is, of course, exempt from that rule - but his family and girlfriend Eloise, 21, are set to watch him take on Humphries in the final. World Grand Prix, Grand Slam and Players Championship champion Humphries is the bookies' favourite for the mammoth clash.
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Humphries is in stunning form and delivered one of the great semi-final performances at the Ally Pally on Tuesday night by beating Scott Williams 6-0. That was some achievement, as Williams had knocked out three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen.
Yet Littler will be confident of upsetting Humphries, who is also playing in his first world final. The teenager has got the better of UK Open champion Andrew Gilding, five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld and ex-world champion Rob Cross so far.
Luke Littler will take part in the PDC World Championship final on Wednesday night (Getty Images)Who do you think will win the PDC World Championship final? Let us know in the comments below!
Littler told Sky Sports after beating Cross: "It is crazy to even think I am in the final on my debut. I was happy to win one game and now I can go all the way.
"It's not easy. You are playing Rob, he is a world champion who won on debut. I've got no words."
On his preparations for the final, Littler added: "I'll be doing what I've been doing. In the morning I'll go for my ham and cheese omelette and then come here, have a pizza and then prep on the board. That is what I've done every day."
Humphries knows he'll have to be at his best to beat Littler. He told Sky Sports: "I've seen the way he's played many, many times but when you come on this stage it can be a lot tougher but he's just proved that he's got a lot of bottle. Nothing is going to phase him.
"I'm probably going to have to play the game of my life. I've got an uphill task and hopefully we can give the people one of the best world finals ever seen."