Luke Littler to battle for £500k prize money as teenager beats Rob Cross ro reach fairytale PDC World Darts Championship final

Luke Littler’s fairytale is almost complete as he comfortably beat Rob Cross to reach the PDC World Darts Championship final.

The 16-year-old became the the youngest-ever finalist with victory over 2018 champion Cross in the semi-final and is one game away from producing one of the greatest sporting triumphs in history.

His run at Ally Pally has seen ‘The Nuke’ bank at least £200,000 before he has even thrown a dart in the final – with Luke Humphries awaiting him – and a prize of £500,000 on the table for the winner.

New no.1 Humphries, 28, has now won 18 straight games and thrashed Scott Williams 6-0 in his semi-final.

However, he wants the trophy rather than the status. “It feels amazing, I would never have imagined myself to be world number one and I did it in style, I was really pleased with the performance.

“I have always said world number one can last a number of months, world champion is forever.”

Littler started his semi behind, with Cross racing into the lead but an incredible 142 checkout in the second set saw the momentum change.

Before the 2018 world champion could even breathe, he found himself 3-1 down before managing to claw back a set.

But a game-changing sixth set saw Littler’s form fly as Cross’ performance levels dropped.

For every big leg Cross would take, he could not follow it up with a consistent stretch of form.

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That is the exact opposite to Littler, whose best strength might be his speed in racking up legs in quick succession.

It means that even former world champions quake in fear, sweating on the Ally Pally stage where they had usually been so cool in the past.

“I haven’t got the words. It’s crazy,” he said. “I have just settled on that stage.

“It has not even sunk in yet. I have surprised myself.

“I have just got to stay focused and be Luke Littler. I have got to be mature and be myself.

“It would be unbelievable if I won it, I only wanted to win one match.”

It is not just the high scores, it is the remarkable accuracy around the board on the doubles – double 10 being Littler’s lucky charm.

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And Cross’ form deserted him at a time when he needed to go dart for dart with his much younger opponent.

His failure to do so gave Littler further confidence, strutting around on the stage – much to the annoyance of Voltage.

But there was nothing the Kentish darts thrower could do as Littler continued a dream tournament that has seen him beat Christian Kist, Andrew Gilding, Matt Campbell, Raymond van Barneveld and Brendan Dolan.

Asked what he’ll do in preparation, Littler said: “I’ll keep doing what I have been doing. I don’t wake up until 12, in the morning go for my ham and cheese omelette, come here and have my pizza, and then go on the practice board.

“It is what I have been doing every day – if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.”

And if he does become a world champion at 16, then his mates will be treated to a day at Alton Towers, while he will upgrade his car – for when he is legally allowed to drive…

Listen to full commentary of the final live on talkSPORT on Wednesday from 7pm