Darts sensation Luke Littler reaches final at world championship

LONDON (AP) — Teenage star Luke Littler has reached the final at the world darts championship — again.

Still just 17, Littler routed Stephen Bunting 6-1 in Thursday's semifinal to give himself another shot at the title, one year after his unlikely run brought waves of new fans to the sport.

Littler lost the title match a year ago — in his first appearance — as fans tuned in to watch the carefree youngster eliminate opponents more that twice his age.

“Chill out, reset the batteries and go again tomorrow,” Littler said of his plan for Friday night, when he can become the youngest world champion in the sport.

Littler will face three-time champion Michael van Gerwen in the final at London’s Alexandra Palace, the boisterous venue better known as “Ally Pally." The demonstrative Dutchman advanced by defeating Chris Dobey 6-1.

Since losing 7-4 to Luke Humphries in last year's final, Littler has won 10 tournaments around the world including in Bahrain and Amsterdam.

“I’ve gained loads of experience,” he said Thursday. “I know where I went wrong last year, and I’m sure I’ll fix it.

“Win seven sets and I’ll be over the moon," added Littler, who still lives at home with his parents in northwest England.

The 35-year-old Van Gerwen last won the title in 2019. This will be his seventh final.

"I'm here with a mission," he said. "The title is still far away, that is what I have to tell myself. I don’t want to make mistakes, I want to keep battling.”

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Fans dressed in costumes are seen during the semifinal match between Michael van Gerwen of the Netherlands and Chris Dobey of England, at the World Darts Championship in London, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Michael van Gerwen of the Netherlands celebfartes after winning the semifinal match against Chris Dobey of England, at the World Darts Championship in London, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Michael van Gerwen of the Netherlands celebfartes after winning the semifinal match against Chris Dobey of England, at the World Darts Championship in London, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Stephen Bunting of England throws his dart during the semifinal match against Luke Littler of England, at the World Darts Championship in London, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Stephen Bunting of England reacts during the semifinal match against Luke Littler of England, at the World Darts Championship in London, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Luke Littler of England attends the semifinal match against Stephen Bunting of England, at the World Darts Championship in London, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Luke Littler of England throws his dart during the semifinal match against Stephen Bunting of England, at the World Darts Championship in London, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Luke Littler of England throws his dart during the semifinal match against Stephen Bunting of England, at the World Darts Championship in London, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday he's moving to set up direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as he can, after Putin opted to skip peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey.

“I think it’s time for us to just do it,” Trump told reporters as he wrapped a four-day visit to the Middle East.

Trump later told reporters after boarding Air Force One to begin the journey back to Washington that he may call Putin soon.

“He and I will meet, and I think we’ll solve it or maybe not,” Trump said. “At least we’ll know. And if we don’t solve it, it’ll be very interesting.”

Trump reiterated that he wasn’t surprised that Putin skipped out on the talks set for Friday in Turkey. Putin didn’t want to go because he’s not there, Trump said.

The Republican president added that he would hold a meeting with Putin “as soon as we can set it up.”

“I would actually leave here and go,” said Trump, who noted his daughter Tiffany just gave birth to her first child. “I do want to see my beautiful grandson.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to take part in the talks as Trump pressed for the leaders to find a solution to the war, ongoing since Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. But Putin spurned the call to meet face-to-face with Zelenskyy.

Trump has pressed both sides to quickly come to a war-ending agreement. Zelenskyy has agreed to an American plan for an initial 30-day halt to hostilities, but Russia has not signed on and has continued to strike at targets inside Ukraine.

Still, Russia and Ukraine were holding their first direct peace talks in three years Friday, gathering in Istanbul for negotiations. Officials and observers expect them to yield little immediate progress on stopping the more than 3-year-old war.

“He didn’t go, and I understand that,” Trump said. “We’re going to get it done. We got to get it done. Five thousand young people are being killed every single week on average, and we’re going to get it done.”

Trump on Thursday told reporters that a meeting between himself and Putin was crucial to breaking the deadlock.

“I don’t believe anything’s going to happen, whether you like it or not, until he and I get together,” Trump said. “But we’re going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying."

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a joint press statement with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Promsvyazbank CEO Pyotr Fradkov during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Alexander Kryazhev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

President Donald Trump tours the Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque at the Abrahamic Family House, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump talks before signing guest book at the Abrahamic Family House, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump attends a business meeting and roundtable at Qasr Al Watan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)