Confident Michael Van Gerwen insists he has balls of steel.

And, although he’s backing Luke Littler to smash his PDC age record, he’s hell-bent on ensuring it won’t be tonight. Van Gerwen is desperate to win the World crown for a fourth time. The Dutchman has recovered from a poor 2024 of no major wins to storm into the Ally Pally showpiece. Asked why’s come back so strongly, he said simply: “Because I’ve got balls of steel.

“I think no one expected me to reach the final. If you give people a pound coin, they would have bet against me, but I know I can prove different and I don’t care what anyone else says. I’ve been in this position a few times and the moment people don’t believe in me, that’s the moment I have to keep fighting, keep digging.

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“Maybe I’m going to be the underdog, but people that know me maybe see it a little bit differently. I was favourite two years ago, I lost that. Now I’m not favourite and maybe I’m going to win it.”

Van Gerwen has the scent of success in his nostrils, but warned: “I’ve been there before, I don’t want to make the same mistake. The smell’s not good enough, you want to touch it.” Luke’s been there, but he had a sniff, and I’m going to make sure it keeps a sniff as well.”

Currently, Van Gerwen is the youngest-ever PDC champion at 24, but Littler can destroy that mark by winning at 17 years of age. But that’s no issue for the Dutchman who relishes having sustained battles with The Nuke.

Van Gerwen said: “With his capability, it would surprise me if he’s not going to beat it, but I don’t really care. I don’t look at stats. The same people talk to me about beating some of Phil Taylor’s records. It’s all about what you do now, and whoever’s in your path. You have to face it and beat it.

“I think he’s great. I think what he did for the sport is great and fair play to him. Television is big, social media is big and that helps him. I think that’s good for darts in general. I don’t mind.

“There was no social media when I was 17. Time moves forward. People retire. The sport moves on. Whoever you are, the sport will never stop. To have battles in any sport, that’s good. That’s what you want to see. I think that’s why the sport gets driven.

“Of course, everyone talks about him, but that’s what England does with their heroes, isn’t it? I think that’s good. That’s what Holland should do with their heroes as well. Whoever you’re going to face, I don’t really care, you need to win it.

Van Gerwen admits it would mean the world to triumph at his beloved Ally Pally. Talk is swirling about the tournament moving away from its current home due to ticket demands, but he said: “If people believe that, they’re nuts. It’s nice, it’s a good strategy from Matchroom to talk about it, isn’t it?

“If they play it on Mars, on Jupiter, in Saudi, in Las Vegas, in Melbourne, in China, I don’t care, I’ll be there. Just give me 48 hours notice and I’ll be there, wherever it is,”

Van Gerwen is ready, but family are staying at home as he said: “It’s not about them making the effort. I can fly them in. It’s a waste of energy. I need my energy to try to win this tournament and that’s my only goal. They know that and we spoke about this. I only got one target, and it’s to try to win it.

“I don’t get nervous. I’ve been there too many times. But you want to get your heart a bit pumped up a little bit, I think that’s good.”