NEVER before has Warrington been entitled to feel so much love and pride for one man.

But Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler’s glorious triumph in the PDC World Darts Championship Final at Alexandra Palace in London is a mood-lifter for the generations.

He was simply too hot to handle for the three-times past winner Michael van Gerwen as he breezed to a 7-3 scoreline to the delight of the many in the raucous Ally Pally crowd, and no doubt his millions of fans watching on television at home.

This is, undoubtedly, the greatest Warrington sporting story in history.

Due to his breakthrough run to the final last year, this was already his second world championship title decider, and to now become the youngest ever winner of such a high-profile tournament by SEVEN years is a mind-blowing achievement.

The newly crowned BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year has completed one of the most incredible sporting 12 months in the life of a teenager anywhere on this planet.

Pause and think for a second - Warringtonian Littler is just 17 years old and he is the champion of the world in a sport enjoying significant boom times thanks largely to his mesmerising heroics on the oche.

He won 10 titles in 2024, but what he did on the Ally Pally stage tonight takes him to a whole new level of inbound recognition, respect and rewards.

Littler will head back up north from England’s capital city with an extra £500,000 in his bulging bank account, in which he had already been deposited more than £1million in earnings since last January.

He will enjoy the moment with his family and close friends, but he will not rest with this.

‘The Nuke’ wants to win titles by the bucketload and has a packed diary waiting for him in 2025.

And the focus will be to keep enjoying and playing darts to the best of his abilities to set himself up nicely for a successful defence of the World Darts Championship next December.

MVG struggled on his doubles all night and Littler needed no second invitation to cash in.

Littler, while starting slowly with his scoring, punished three missed darts at the double by Van Gerwen to take the opening leg against the throw and quickly moved 2-0 ahead.

Two missed doubles against the throw left the way open for the Dutchman to earn his first leg but a grand 80 checkout saw the first set sewn up by ‘The Nuke’.

The teenager, on throw, comfortably took the first leg of the new set and fired in an 82 finish to break MVG in 11 darts, after the Dutchman was wayward with two darts at double 20.

And in no time at all, Littler bagged the second set with a 115 average after Van Gerwen failed to nail the bull that he needed.

The Green Machine went ahead in a set for the first time as he held throw in the opening leg of the third, but he missed three double 20 shots to break Littler who held his nerve to then level matters.

‘The Nuke’ punished more mistakes by the Dutchman to go 2-1 in front and although he missed the ‘big fish’ 170 with the third arrow he sealed the third set on his next visit.

Double 10, Littler’s usual friend, was pinned to go 1-0 up and he closed out on 88 to tighten the screw, making it 11 leg wins to two at this point.

Two missed throws at double 16 led to MVG breaking Littler to save the fourth set.

Again Littler missed bull for a 170, but the Dutchman was wide with three arrows at double and it allowed Littler to return to sweep up for an incredible 4-0 lead.

MVG squeezed into double 10 at the third attempt to get his nose in front in the fifth set opener.

Littler’s brilliant response was his first ton-plus finish of 130, while Van Gerwen edged in front again with a hold of throw.

A 132 finish from the Green Machine though handed him his first set, still three adrift of the Warrington man.

Eager to respond, back-to-back 180s left Littler on a nine-darter but he was off the mark with his seventh arrow. Nevertheless, he comfortably won the leg in 13 darts.

Littler missed double 20 to break MVG, who levelled matters on his next visit to the oche.

An 87 finish left ‘The Nuke’ one leg away from taking the next set but when he missed the bull MVG pinned double 16 to force a decider.

But with the throw in his favour and a 110 average for the set Littler was not to be beaten and marched to 5-1 in front.

Van Gerwen held throw but Littler’s stunning response was a 124 checkout before the Dutchman restored his set lead.

Littler forced a deciding leg but MVG was able to make the most of the darts and win his second set.

A hold of throw for Littler nudged him ahead in set eight and then broke his opponent with an 11-darter – both players averaging over 111.

The whitewash set was quickly completed, leaving ‘The Nuke’ on the verge of greatness at 6-2.

Legs went to throw as MVG got in front 2-1 in the ninth and he broke Littler to clutch his third set success.

With the arrows back in his favour, Littler stormed ahead in the 10th set eager to finish Van Gerwen off.

Nerveless Littler secured the break to leave himself on the brink.

Needing 132, he hit two bulls and missed double 16 but came back to the oche to let fly with the loveliest of arrows that crowned him champion of the world.