The fairytale run ends for teenage darts sensation Luke Littler in the final of the PDC World Championship

The fairytale run is over for 16-year-old Luke Littler, who lost 7-4 to world number 1 Luke Humphries in the final of the World Darts Championship.

It was a thrilling battle between the Lukes – and the youngest world darts final in the sport's history – at a packed Alexandra Palace in London, with both chasing a million dollar payday.

It was a cat-and-mouse final with alternating sets between third seed “Cool Hand” Luke Humphries (28), who won the first and third sets, and the youngster, who won the second set.

Reigning junior world champion Luke “The Nuke” Littler, who turns 17 on January 21, then teeed off and won the fourth, fifth and sixth sets in quick succession, winning two sets against the world No. 1.

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Luke Littler missed the chance to take a 5-2 lead in the PDC World Championship final, losing 7-4 to Luke Humphries.

However, Littler stumbled and missed a crucial shot to win the seventh set. Instead, Humphries' experience showed as he closed the gap one throw later, winning the seventh and eighth sets and leveling the score.

Littler, the Manchester United fan from Warrington and the youngest player to reach a World Darts Championship final, tried to fight back in the ninth set and went down until the last dart of the third leg, but Humphries went in 5-4 Guide. then 6-4 lead after winning the 10th set.

Humphries – who was on an 18-game winning streak before the final – was challenged in the 11th set and went down until the final leg, but took the title – which included 23 180s – with a double eight.

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Luke Humphries celebrates with the trophy after winning the PDC World Darts Championship final.

After the match, the two players hugged and the new champion said he couldn't express how good it was to win the title. He spoke openly about his battle with depression and thought his darts career was over, but the win helped him a lot.

He praised his competitor and said Littler was a “relentless” player.

“He's an incredible talent… he'll definitely win a lot,” he told Sky Sport.

“Now it’s about motivating yourself to do more and more. Luke was an incredible talent, and not just on the dartboard. He is something else.

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Luke Humphries won the final 7-4, cementing his status as the best darts player in the world.

“He is one of the best players in the world, there is no doubt about that.”

Littler said the experience was “incredible” but the only negative was that he lost too many legs.

“Every game was good. Fair play to Luke. He deserves it,” he said.

“I'm happy. Top 32, second on my debut. It's unbelievable.”

But it wasn't all bad for the youngster, who won a second prize check for NZ$500,000.