The World Darts Championship final is just around the corner, featuring Michael van Gerwen facing off against Luke Littler in a much-anticipated showdown at the Ally Pally spectacle this Friday evening.

Van Gerwen is looking to end a six-year title drought and secure his fourth world championship, while Littler aims to better his performance from last year, where he was defeated in the final by Luke Humphries in his debut appearance.

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Aside from the prestigious title in darts, the financial implications are substantial, as the champion will take home a £500,000 prize, while the runner-up will receive £200,000.

Van Gerwen showcased his dominance with a semi-final victory over Chris Dobey on Thursday, achieving an impressive 6-1 win in a swift performance.

The Dutch ace was overcome with emotion and dropped an expletive during a Sky Sports interview following this thrilling win.

Meanwhile, the young talent Littler excelled in his own 6-1 victory over Stephen Bunting, wrapping up a phenomenal year with an eagerly awaited return to the sport’s grandest event.

What time is the World Darts Championship final?

After twenty days of fierce competition, the moment everyone has been waiting for is finally here.

The World Darts Championship final is set for Friday, January 3.

The showdown between Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler is slated to start at 8.30pm GMT.

Sky Sports will begin their coverage at 8pm.

SunSport will provide LIVE updates on reactions from the semi-finals and all preparations leading up to this significant match throughout the day.

Additionally, we will cover the action from the match itself.

What is the format for the World Darts Championship final?

While the earlier rounds were played as best of five sets, the final is structured for endurance.

The match will be contested over the best of 13 sets, meaning the first to win seven sets will claim the trophy and accompanying prize money.

The number of legs required to win stays constant from previous rounds, with three legs needed for the final.

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Is there a tiebreak for the World Darts Championship final?

In short, yes.

If Van Gerwen and Littler find themselves tied at 6-6 after 12 sets, the final will enter a tiebreaker.

According to the tiebreak rules, a player must win by a margin of two clear legs. Therefore, if both players are tied at 2-2, they will continue until one player achieves a two-leg lead.

If they are still tied at 5-5, the match transitions to sudden death, which requires just one leg to claim victory.

No coin toss or throw determines the starting player; rather, the player who did not throw in the previous leg will start the sudden death leg.

How much prize money can be won in the World Darts Championship final?

Both players are guaranteed a minimum payout of £200,000 for reaching the final.

However, the grand prize surpasses that, totaling £500,000.

Additionally, there is a nine-dart bonus available, with sponsor Paddy Power offering £60,000 to any player who achieves a nine-dart finish during the tournament.

Christian Kist has tripled his annual prize money by hitting a nine-darter, alongside Damon Heta who also landed a nine-darter in this tournament, although both unfortunately lost their respective matches.

Historically, only one nine-darter has been recorded in a final, accomplished by Michael Smith during his celebrated title run in 2023.

The pursuit of nine-darters doesn’t end with the competitors.

Paddy Power will also reward one lucky fan in the audience with a £60,000 prize if a player achieves a nine-darter.

Furthermore, the betting firm will donate £60,000 to its charitable partner, Prostate Cancer UK.