Something that has stood out since Littler’s rise to prominence has been his assuredness in even the most stressful moments and that was more apparent than ever in his second world final.
While Ally Pally was at fever pitch in the moments leading up to the walk-ons, Littler was an image of calm.
There was no frenetic energy and no eagerness to get up to the stage and get on with it as he stopped and shook hands with a number of fans wearing his shirt, before eventually sauntering up the stairs towards the oche.
Remarkably though, the new world number two looked even more at ease once the action started.
A break of throw in the opening leg – bringing an almighty roar from the fans – no doubt helped but the way in which he proceeded to blow Van Gerwen away in the first four sets was nothing short of spectacular.
“Tonight and throughout the tournament, I just needed to get off to a quick start,” Littler told Sky Sports.
“Earlier today, I watched all of the game back against Luke [Humphries, in last year’s final] and I had the visions.”
Whatever those visions were, even in his wildest dreams, he could not have expected to make such a blistering start and find himself 4-0 up having dropped only three legs.
It is often said that younger sportspeople don’t have the same fear that can hold back their older counterparts but the trade off is supposed to be an impetuousness that leads to mistakes, or at least a degree of inconsistency.
But there was none of that. His scoring was as relentless as ever and for a time it seemed he simply could not miss his favoured double 10.
Rather than the young upstart, it was the 35-year-old former champion and legend of the sport pressured into costly errors.
Van Gerwen’s disbelief at what was happening was matched only by the crowd, who quickly realised they might not get to see a thriller but watching a masterclass could be just as fun.
“It’s almost like a cat toying with a mouse from Luke Littler, make [Michael van Gerwen] think he’s doing OK then smash him with a 180 and get to a finish first,” said John Part, a three-time world champion, on Sky Sports.
“This is cruel stuff.”
