Teenage sensation Luke Littler has arrived at London’s Ally Pally for the match of his career as he prepares to battle it out against number-three seed Luke Humphries at the World Darts Championships.
The 16-year-old has made history by becoming the youngest ever-finalist, grabbing the sporting world’s attention with his dazzling displays at the oche in the last two-and-a-half weeks.
‘Luke the Nuke’ arrived at the venue on his own just before 5pm, wearing a black hooded coat and grey rucksack before quickly heading inside to prepare for the big event which could see him win £500,000.
Regardless of tonight’s outcome, Littler will leave the Alexandra Palace on Wednesday six figures richer, claiming either a £200,000 prize for making the final or half a million for winning it against the new world number one Humphries, 28.
Fans have been flocking into the capital all day, with pictures showing darts lovers donning their finest fancy dress as they get the pints in to warm up for the match, which is expected to start at 8.30pm.
‘Luke the Nuke’ arrived at the venue on his own just before 5pm, wearing a black hooded coat and grey rucksack before quickly heading inside to prepare for the big event
Regardless of the outcome, Littler will leave the Alexandra Palace on Wednesday six figures richer, claiming either a £200,000 prize for making the final or half a million for winning it against number-three seed Humphries, 28
Darts fans pictured outside a pub near Alexandra Palace
Fans in the build up to the final between Luke Littler and Luke Humphries
Fans have begun flocking to London ‘s Alexandra Palace ahead of tonight’s World Darts Championship final
Fans have started drinking before a historic final which could see the youngest ever world champions crowned
Many darts-lovers have come in fancy dress for the big night at Alexandra Palace
Pictures show fans donning their finest fancy dress as they get the pints in to warm up for the big game
Fans have started to arrive at Alexandra Palace in a number of different costumes for tonight’s final
A group of fans dressed as leprechauns wait outside Alexandra Palace
One man wears a ‘stand up if you love the darts’ t-swhilst standing next to his friend
A group of men queuing up to enter Alexandra Palace in sparkling blazers and hats
One is wearing a T-shirt saying ‘darts & beer, that’s why I’m here’ as he gets into the spirit nice and early at a nearby pub.
Others have come dressed in Christmas-themed suits, or as life-size traffic cones, as they prepare to witness what could be an historic sporting moment.
It comes after desperate fans trying to get last minute seats caused the Professional Darts Corporation site, powered by see tickets, to crash this morning.
A message read ‘we are currently processing the maximum possible number of bookings we are able to handle at one time’.
The PDC site said there were ‘no resale tickets available for this event. Please check back again later.’
Meanwhile touts have been attempting to flog tickets for as much as £1,170 on viagogo. For the final, they were originally selling for £81 for a table seat and £71 for a tiered ticket.
Tickets first go on sale in the summer and sell out quickly. Many have been resorting to begging for tickets on social media – with one even saying he was ‘selling organs for a world darts championship final ticket.’
Those in a last minute panic for tickets admitted it was a ‘long shot’ as they put out pleas online.
‘Help a man out please,’ one fan asked.
One claimed he had spotted tickets going for £350, describing it as ‘crazy’.
While many searched for a chance to watch the final, others used it as an opportunity to cash in on their own tickets.
Messages by people saying they are selling their tickets to the final are also flooding X.
‘Have 4 darts tickets for ally pally for the final tonight. £85 each,’ one wrote.
Those in a last minute panic for tickets admitted it was a ‘long shot’ as they put out pleas online.
‘Help a man out please,’ one fan asked.
One claimed he had spotted tickets going for £350, describing it as ‘crazy’.
While many searched for a chance to watch the final, others used it as an opportunity to cash in on their own tickets.
Messages by people saying they are selling their tickets to the final are also flooding X.
‘Have 4 darts tickets for ally pally for the final tonight. £85 each,’ one wrote.
A last minute scramble for tickets to watch 16-year-old Luke Littler take on Luke Humphries
Luke Littler celebrates victory in the semi-final against Rob Cross on day fifteen of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace
Luke Littler (left) met Luke Humphries (right) in the Hayling Island quarter-final in November 2019. The pair face off in the World Darts Championship final tonight
Many are taking to social media to sell their tickets to the final
Littler can’t help but smile as Rob Cross congratulates him on his semi-final victory
Luke Littler roars as he throws a final double-10 to claim victory against Rob Cross
Humphries, who has played the youngster in the past, has admitted he’ll have to ‘probably have to play the game of my life’ in order to see off the challenger, who has set the darts world ablaze with his skill and his humility in equal measure.
The world number one booked his place in tonight’s final with a 6-0 victory over Scott Williams.
Following his semi-final victory, Littler confirmed he would be having a ham and cheese omelette for breakfast, and pizza for lunch on the day of the final.
He told Sky Sports: ‘I’ve just settled on that stage (in darts). It takes myself a few legs to settle into a game but once I find that rhythm I’m good to go.’
Asked how he will keep his cool in tonight’s final, he added: ‘I’ve just got to stay focused throughout the game no matter how long it goes on for.
‘(In the final, I’ll do) what I’ve been doing – in the morning, go for my ham and cheese omelette.
‘Come in here, have my pizza, then I’m on the board, that’s what I’ve done every day.
‘If my game’s there, it’s there. I threw well again and I’ve got over the line again.’
Before Litter won his semi-final contest against Rob Cross, the previous youngest World Championship finalist is Kirk Shepherd who was 21 years and 88 days in 2008.
The youngest winner is Michael van Gerwen, who was 24 years and nine months when he won his first title in 2014.
Litter’s rise to stardom had lead to to calls for the final to be shown by free-to-air broadcasters.
The Liberal Democrats’ culture and sports spokesman Jamie Stone said on Tuesday night it would be “scandalous” if the 16-year-old’s match was not on free-to-air television.
However, Sky Sports confirmed today it had received no offers from free-to-air broadcasters to screen the final.