Russ Bray makes stunning prediction for Luke Littler vs Michael van Gerwen final at World Darts Championship

Luke Littler beat Stephen Bunting to reach the final for a second year on the trot (Picture: Getty)

Legendary referee Russ Bray says he is expecting the greatest World Darts Championship final in history between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen, with both players ‘hitting form at the right time’.

Pre-tournament favourite Littler, 17, has lived up to his billing at London’s Alexandra Palace, booking his place in a second straight final with a 6-1 victory over Stephen Bunting on Thursday evening.

Van Gerwen, 35, won by the same margin in his earlier semi-final with Chris Dobey and the stage is set for what promises to be a thrilling night of drama in the capital.

Looking to go one better than last year when he was beaten by Luke Humphries, Littler has remained laser-focused throughout the rounds and knows he can ill afford to make any slip ups against three-time champion Van Gerwen.

MVG – who triumphed in 2014, 2017 and 2019 – knocked out arguably the championship’s form player in Callan Rydz at the last-16 stage and the Dutchman has been in a typically bullish mood while facing the media.

‘Luke’s been there in a final before but he only had a sniff. I’m going to make sure that I keep it as a sniff as well,’ the Green Machine told reporters after overcoming Dobey.

‘I don’t get nervous, I’ve been there too many times. I feel good. You want to get your heart beating a little bit, I think that’s good, but I don’t get nerves for this.’

Van Gerwen dismantled Dobey in a one-sided semi-final (Picture: Getty)

Bray is licking his lips ahead of what promises to be a thrilling night of action at Ally Pally (Picture: Getty)

Iconic referee Bray – who called the previous final – believes this year’s showpiece the potential to be the greatest ever should Littler and Van Gerwen perform to the best of their ability.

‘I’m really looking forward to it. Both the boys have hit form at the right time as well,’ he told Alan Brazil and Ray Parlour on talkSPORT breakfast.

‘Littler, his 180s and his scoring ability, is immense. And Van Gerwen is doing exactly the same now, he’s getting into that mindset.

‘I will stick my neck out and say it, I think it is probably going to be the best final we’ve ever had… ever, ever.’

Bray has been massively ‘impressed’ with the way Littler has coped with the added pressure this year after his extraordinary breakout campaign 12 months ago.

‘I’m very lucky, I still travel all over the world, and everyone talks about Luke Littler, even if they don’t follow darts, “Who is this young kid that does the darts?”, you’re getting this all the time,’ he added.

‘What has impressed me with Luke is that I honestly believed that he was going to be struggling with all the pressure for this year because of what he did last year.

‘Well, he’s just shrugged it off like a dog shaking the water of its back. He’s just been absolutely incredible, he takes everything in his stride. Wow.’

Bray called last year’s final between Littler and Humphries (Picture: Getty)

Littler has been as relaxed as ever up on the oche, sharing jokes and fist bumping the likes of Nathan Aspinall and Bunting between legs en route to the final.

But according to Bray, there are no ‘happy losers’ and it will be strictly business between Littler and Van Gerwen when the two rivals meet at Ally Pally.

‘In my opinion, there’s never, ever a happy loser. If you’re a winner, you’re not a happy loser. It’s a simple statement,’ he continued.

‘You look at these guys that are winners, your Van Gerwens and your Gerwyn Prices, they wouldn’t be fist bumping. They wouldn’t be doing this sort of thing and smiling because someone has done this and done that. They don’t because they’re winners.

‘They’ll fist bump you when they’re finished and have won but they’re not going to fist bump you because you’ve just taken 170 out, taken the leg and maybe even taken the set. They’re disappointed because they haven’t won it.

‘That then comes down to an attitude and I honestly believe you do not have happy winners.’

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