In an unforgettable moment at the Premier League Darts, Luke Littler stunned both the crowd and his rival Michael van Gerwen with a dazzling nine-dart finish in the final.
The 18-year-old darting sensation claimed his third victory of the season, securing a 6-4 win and strengthening his position at the top of the league standings.
A Historic Night in the Premier League
Littler’s nine-darter was the third of the Premier League season, following impressive finishes from world No. 1 Luke Humphries and Rob Cross in recent weeks.
This achievement came just nine days after Littler had hit another nine-darter at the Players Championship in Leicester, but this time, he performed in front of a frenzied crowd that was clearly behind him.
The young Welsh star’s victory was even more impressive considering he hadn’t touched his darts since the previous Thursday.
Despite the break, Littler showed no signs of rust, hitting a remarkable 10 180s and averaging 112.50 during his match.
is performance in the final helped him extend his lead in the Premier League table, as he continues to shine as the season progresses.
Littler Reflects on His Victory
After his win, Littler spoke to Sky Sports about his performance, expressing his contentment with the result.
“I haven’t picked my darts up since last Thursday,” he admitted, “but to come here and win, I’m comfortable.”
He also added, “I had no idea if the last dart was in.
But once the referee confirmed it, I was ecstatic.” Littler has made it clear that he’s aiming to stay at the top, mentioning that he hopes to make it to the O2 Arena and continue dominating the league.
Littler had also hinted at his approach to hitting the nine-darter earlier, posting on Instagram about a potential route to achieve it.
His prediction came true, and the crowd’s reaction showed just how much they were behind him, especially after the spectacular finish.
From Quarter-Final to Victory
The road to the final wasn’t easy for Littler. He was booed when he entered the arena for his quarter-final match against Nathan Aspinall, who had previously expressed his intention to be less friendly with his opponents.
Despite the hostile reception, Littler let his darts do the talking, dispatching Aspinall with an impressive 6-3 victory while averaging over 102.
He then moved on to the semifinals, where he easily beat Rob Cross, averaging nearly 108 to secure his place in the final against van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen’s Strong Challenge
Although van Gerwen ultimately fell short in the final, he had a strong night, beating both Luke Humphries and Chris Dobey to reach his first final of the season.
The seven-time Premier League champion showed his resilience, but Littler’s nine-darter proved to be a defining moment in their clash.
After hitting back-to-back 180s, Littler hit a 141 finish, using a treble 20, treble 17, and double 15 combination to seal the deal.
The crowd erupted in celebration as Littler’s final dart secured the victory.
Van Gerwen, though disappointed with the loss, couldn’t help but smile at Littler’s incredible achievement.
Looking Ahead to Newcastle
With this win, Littler remains at the top of the Premier League table as he heads into next week’s night in Newcastle.
He will face Stephen Bunting in what promises to be an exciting quarter-final match-up.
As the competition intensifies, Littler’s performance continues to put him in a strong position to remain the dominant force in the league.