Michael van Gerwen has already explained why he will not be joining Luke Littler at next week's Bahrain Darts Masters. The Dutchman has not played a competitive match since losing to his teenage rival in the final of the World Darts Championship.

Luke Littler lifted the lid on what Michael van Gerwen told him after his historic victory in the World Darts Championship final on Friday evening. Having come up short in last year’s final on debut,

Luke Littler hammers Michael van Gerwen to win first World Championship - The 17-year-old sensation beat Van Gerwen 7-3 in a one-sided final to become the youngest ever world champion.

Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen are set to write to latest chapter of their engrossing rivalry when they face off in the World Darts Championship final on Friday. The pair have been the two outsanding players this year at Ally Pally and cruised through their semi-finals to set up a blockbuster final which has all the makings of a potential classic.

Michael van Gerwen has fired a warning shot at teenage sensation Luke Littler ahead of Friday's World Darts Championship final at Alexandra Palace. The Dutch star has vowed to keep his 17-year-old opponent just "a sniff away" from claiming the prestigious title as they prepare to lock horns in north London.