Littler secured his second consecutive World Championship final appearance with a dominant 6-1 win over Stephen Bunting, averaging over 105. It was a mirror image of Van Gerwen's success earlier in the evening, defeating Chris Dobey by the same scoreline.
However, it was The Nuke who stole the show yet again on Thursday, showcasing exceptional form against Masters champion Bunting.
Boasting a tournament average of 102 across his five matches, Littler says he feels his experience is starting to tell in the big matches.
"I've gained valuable experience this year," Littler said in his post-match press conference.
"Michael has extensive final experience, but this is only my second. I know where I went wrong last year, and I'm determined to improve."
Bunting, despite averaging over 100 himself, couldn't match Littler's brilliance. The 17-year-old surged ahead with a commanding four-set lead.
Bunting briefly rallied, but Littler's consistent performance, including a top drawer 'big fish' 170 checkout, sealed the deal.
"I felt very confident tonight," Littler added. "I'm hitting the right shots at the right time. Stephen was right behind me throughout the game, so I couldn't afford to step off the gas."
Van Gerwen, meanwhile, cruised to his seventh World Championship semi-final with a 6-1 demolition of Dobey earlier on.
The Dutch superstar averaged nearly 99, landed eight 180s, and produced three ton-plus checkouts.
"Reaching the final means nothing to me," Van Gerwen declared. "Winning is the only goal. My experience could be important, but I haven't achieved anything yet."
Dobey showed glimpses of brilliance, including a spectacular 170 checkout, but Van Gerwen's dominance proved insurmountable.
"I executed well in crucial moments," Van Gerwen reflected. "Whether it was finishing or scoring, I put pressure on Chris and that helped me win."
Van Gerwen will aim to claim his fourth world championship on Sunday, with only the all-time great Phil Taylor boasting more than the Green Machine.
After losing to Luke Humphries in last year's final, Littler seeks to become the youngest World Champion in the competition's history to cap off a stunning debut calendar year.