Littler thrashes Bunting to set up Van Gerwen final

Teenager Luke Littler thrashed Stephen Bunting 6-1 with a ruthless display to set up a PDC World Championship final against Michael van Gerwen on Friday.

The 17-year-old was runner-up last year and is bidding to become the youngest winner of the tournament after a whirlwind 12 months which has seen him become a household name.

The teenager averaged 105.48, his highest of this year's competition, as he overpowered his fellow Englishman at Alexandra Palace in London.

Three-time champion Van Gerwen, who defeated Chris Dobey 6-1 in the semi-finals on Thursday, became the youngest winner aged 24 in 2014.

"If we both turn up like we did tonight, it is going to be really good," said Littler of the final, which starts at 20:00 GMT.

Fourth seed Littler has looked increasingly comfortable as the tournament has progressed and raced into a 4-0 lead on Thursday.

He took the opening set despite an average of 113.35 from Bunting and kicked on from there.

Eighth seed Bunting won the fifth set but missed three double attempts to seal the next and Littler went further ahead with bullseye to clinch an 84 checkout.

With victory in sight, the teenager treated the crowd to a spectacular 170 finish.

Third seed Van Gerwen also won 6-1 and is taking nothing for granted.

"We're not even close yet, we're still so far away," said the Dutchman.

Van Gerwen is seeking his fourth title but last triumphed in 2019, with two defeats in the final since then.

The third seed started strongly against Dobey, who was unable to reel him in with the Dutchman's 98.84 average enough to seal victory.

England's Dobey had knocked out 2021 champion Gerwyn Price in the last eight but failed to reach the same level in his first world semi-final appearance.

Dobey missed three darts at the double in the second set to go two behind, and while the world number 15 fought back to win the third - where he notched a 170 'Big Fish' checkout before a 108 finish - it was a brief highlight.

Van Gerwen rattled off the next four sets with the minimum of fuss to reach the final for a seventh time. He threw eight 180s and took out three ton-plus checkouts, including a majestic 158.

"I'm here with a mission and a target. You will have ups and downs but today I showed a good mentality," he said.

"Even when things were not going my way I was able to produce good stuff at the right moments. That gives me a lot of confidence."