Littler hits the 24th 180 of the match so far, leaving himself needing 164 – he gets the trebles, but misses the bullseye! Van Gerwen punishes him with a 14-darter of his own, finding double 16 to hold throw.

Littler’s throw goes smoothly, running the score down to 40 before landing tops to level it.

We could be just a few minutes away from seeing Littler crowned champion, though van Gerwen does start with the throw in this upcoming set.

In terms of stats, of the 37 attempts that Littler has had at a winning double, he’s hit 21 of them (or 56.76 per cent).

A 112.16 average for Littler after his first visit of the third leg, but van Gerwen makes some ground with a 180. 89 leaves him needing 92, with Littler needing 64 – but he misses the double 18!

And Littler lands tops to take himself to within one set of the title!

124 to open the next set for Littler, who has the throw. He follows up with 140 and 97, leaving himself needing 130. He’s in control, but misses the bull to leave 25.

A five and a double 10 up next? He finds them both to hold and take the first leg.

Van Gerwen takes it down to 128 needed – but he can’t get it, taking 44, and Littler completes an 11-darter to go 2-0 up!

Van Gerwen has lifted his game since the break and certainly upped his finishing rate, which couldn’t have got much worse in truth. He’s now taking 11 from 35 double attempts, having been down at just two from 18 at one point.

We have a match on here and the next set, with Littler to throw first, feels absolutely pivotal to the destiny of the 2025 world title.

Van Gerwen takes the next leg, holding throw with a double 14, but Littler also holds after checking out on 124 to level the set.

In the third, Littler takes a 180 on his second visit, but with van Gerwen needing 81, is it enough?

It isn’t, as the Dutchman checks out for a 12-dart leg.

It’s Littler’s throw next, so will we see a decider? He lands top to take it!

It’s MVG’s throw though, and he starts with a 180 – promising, but Littler replies with a maximum of his own to put the pressure on.

Van Gerwen needs tops to take the set – and he nails it, so we’re at 5-2!

Another 180 to start for Littler, but the nine-darter goes with his next throw. He whittles down the score to need 87, and checks out after finding double 10.

One more leg for the set – he’s averaging 113.

He gets from 227 to 127, but leaves himself needing 42 – and van Gerwen punishes him, forcing a decider by finding double 16.

Littler begins the next leg with a maximum, and follows with 100.

The 17-year-old needs 128, with MVG needing 185...

Littler knows he has time, so he takes it down to 35, waits for van Gerwen to visit and lands his trusty double 10 to take the sixth set!

Littler begins with a 180, and straight away he lands another, to the delight of the Ally Pally crowd – but the next dart hits treble one.

72 needed, but he only takes 32 – no matter as he’s over 200 clear of van Gerwen, and he holds throw by landing double 16.

Next leg, and it MVG’s turn for a 180, but an 80 afterwards leaves him needing 157, while Littler needs the big fish.

Van Gerwen takes 91, Littler takes 64...and the Englishman misses tops to break!

The Dutchman saves himself with double one.

Littler takes himself down to the 170, but settles needing 36.

And van Gerwen is on the board after breaking the throw in a pretty impressive manner, checking out on 132 and finishing with a bullseye!

The Dutchman has a way back into it.

It’s van Gerwen to open this set, and both lands early 180s. The Dutchman pulls ahead and both miss their respective checkouts, before MVG then takes the first leg with a double 10, checking out on 53.

Littler whittles the second leg down to 130, and nails tops to level the set. Simple stuff to hold. 98.63 average for the youngster at the moment.

Littler then lands 180 to leave himself needing 164, with van Gerwen needing 80 – he gets it, finishing on double 10, so both players have held so far.