THERE is one trophy Luke Littler really wants to be taking home tonight – the Sid Waddell Trophy awarded to the winner of the World Darts Championship.

Having come agonisingly close last year, he will be able to get his hands on darts’ most coveted prize if he beats Michael Van Gerwen later in the showpiece final at Alexandra Palace.

Whether he wins or loses, however, the Warringtonian teenager is set to take home a trophy this evening.

Littler is miles ahead in the race to lift the Ballon D’Art trophy, which was created by title sponsors Paddy Power for the player who hits the most 180s during the tournament.

The 15 maximums the 17-year-old hit during his semi-final victory over Stephen Bunting last night took him to 64 for the tournament, 21 clear of Van Gerwen – the only player who can now catch him – and quarter-finalist Callan Rydz.

Having beaten Luke Littler in last year's final, Luke Humphries also picked up the inaugural Ballon D'Art trophy for hitting the most 180s during the tournament (Image: PDC) Littler needs 19 maximums this evening to match the record number of 180s hit by a single player during the tournament, which currently belongs to Michael Smith, who hit an astonishing 83 during the 2022 event.

The Ballon D’Art is in addition to the BIGGER 180 Campaign, which has seen Paddy Power donate £1,000 to Prostate Cancer UK for every 180 scored at Ally Pally.

The tournament sponsors are also offering a £180,000 bonus for every nine-dart leg thrown during the tournament, to be split three ways between Prostate Cancer UK, the player who hits the perfect leg and a lucky fan in the crowd.

There have been two so far courtesy of Dutchman Christian Kist in his first-round defeat to Madars Razma and Australia’s Damon Heta in the third round against Luke Woodhouse.

Littler narrowly missed double 12 to complete a nine-dart leg in his first match of the tournament against Ryan Meikle but is ineligible to receive the bonus from Paddy Power as he is still below the legal age for gambling in the UK.

Before the tournament, however, Warrington-based hotel chain Village Hotels committed to covering the £60,000 prize themselves should Littler achieve perfection at any point during the tournament.