Michael van Gerwen has already explained why he will not be joining Luke Littler at next week's Bahrain Darts Masters. The Dutchman has not played a competitive match since losing to his teenage rival in the final of the World Darts Championship.

Michael van Gerwen could be receiving a fine in the near future, compounding his misery after losing to Luke Littler in the WDC final.

In reaching a seventh World Darts Championship final with ominous intensity and precision, Michael van Gerwen was asked about Luke Littler’s most recently acquired moniker.

Michael van Gerwen dropped yet another expletive following his World Darts Championship final defeat to Luke Littler at Ally Pally tonight as Sky Sports forced to apologised

Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen are set to write to latest chapter of their engrossing rivalry when they face off in the World Darts Championship final on Friday. The pair have been the two outsanding players this year at Ally Pally and cruised through their semi-finals to set up a blockbuster final which has all the makings of a potential classic.