LUKE LITTLER and Michael van Gerwen go to battle once again – with more than just the World Darts Championship at stake.
The pair meet in the PDC final TONIGHT in what will be their 13th match against each other in just 12 months.
And remarkably, they are tied at 6-6 heading into the Ally Pally showpiece.
They first met at the Bahrain Darts Masters last January, just a month after Littler’s final loss to Luke Humphries.
And the teen sensation carried on his sensational climb to the top of the sport by beating Van Gerwen 8-5.
The Dutch three-time world champ would then respond with a resounding three straight victories over Littler.
Littler hit back with a hat-trick of his own, spanning across Nottingham, Belfast and Manchester.
Van Gerwen replied with another three wins on the bounce but Littler has won the last two matches against each other.
It leaves them level heading into the world final in London.
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Littler’s rivalry with Van Gerwen is quickly becoming one of darts’ fiercest – but there is plenty of respect between the two.
MVG said: “I think he’s great. What he’s done for the sport is great. Fair play to him.
“Television and social media is big which helps him. It’s good for darts in general. I don’t mind.”
Littler said: “As I got older, I watched darts more and more.
“The first one [Van Gerwen match] I remember was the 2017 final when he beat Gary [Anderson].
“He’s been around for years and years and I’m sure he won’t change for anyone.”
Despite the respect that exists between them, they WON’T be fist bumping throughout the clash as Littler has done in previous rounds.
READ MORE on all the build-up to the Ally Pally extravaganza...
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