Dutch veteran dart player Michael van Gerwen will meet 17-year-old Luke Littler in the final of the world darts championships at Alexandra Palace in London on Friday evening.

Van Gerwen, who has won the title three times before, beat Chris Dobey 6-1 to reach the final and the match for over €600,000 in prize money. Little, who hit the darts world by storm as a 16-year-old, lost the final last year to Luke Humphries.

Van Gerwen told reporters after the match “I am only in the final. I’ve won f*** all yet”, when asked how important winning the title would be. He last took the world title in 2019.

‘I am here with a mission, with a target, you are always going to have ups and downs. Today I showed maturity. Even when I wasn’t at my best I produced some good stuff at the right moments and that gives me confidence,” he said.

“Mighty Mike” and Littler have met 12 times over the past year, with each winning six matches. “If I was to believe the press, I have had my worst ever year,” Van Gerwen said. “But he has not beaten me more than I have beaten him and that says a lot.”

Littler, who beat Stephen Bunting 6-1 to reach his second final in a row, told reporters after the game he had played better. Asked about the final against Van Gerwen, he said: “I’ve won plenty of titles leading up to this. I can’t wait. If we both turn up like we did tonight, it’s going to be really good.”

Van Gerwen was 24 when he won his first world championship.

The final, broadcast live on NOS television, starts at 9 pm on Friday evening. A record 16 Dutch players took part in the tournament.