Overview
- Michael van Gerwen beat Luke Littler 8–6 in the International Darts Cup final in Tampere in front of roughly 7,500 fans at an exhibition event.
- Littler remains world No.1 and the reigning PDC world champion as he targets back-to-back titles, a feat achieved in the modern era only by Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson.
- Ricardo Pietreczko described Littler as “a bit arrogant” while insisting their rivalry was overblown by the media after flashpoints at the Belgian Darts Open and a joking remark at Minehead.
- Opening matches are set with Littler facing Darius Labanauskas, Luke Humphries meeting Ted Evetts and Van Gerwen drawing Mitsuhiko Tatsunami.
- Van Gerwen said he is not the favorite after a difficult year and stressed he must step up for the World Championship stage.