Luke Littler is beaten in Premier League Darts Play-Offs final

Yahoo

3 days ago

LUKE 'The Nuke' Littler reached the Premier League Darts Play-Offs final for the second year running but ended Thursday night at The O2 dethroned.
The Warrington 18-year-old was aiming to become only the third man to retain the crown, matching the feat of Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen, but he was defeated 11-8 in the decider by Luke Humphries.
Both won their semi-finals 10-7, Littler against Gerwyn Price and Humphries versus Nathan Aspinall.
'The Nuke', who claimed his first major title at The O2 12 months ago, had dominated the league phase of the second biggest tournament in the sport, breaking records with his six nightly wins and table-topping 45 points tally.
Luke Littler 8 Luke Humphries 11
THIS was never the classic contest everyone was hoping for in a repeat of last year's final.
There was drama, it was intense, but neither player reached the levels of throwing they are capable of.
Littler raced into a 3-0 lead but Humphries roared back to level in a nervy contest.
'The Nuke' went two legs clear again but his opponent showed his steel once more, leaving both players going off the stage at 5-5.
At that point, neither player was happy about conditions on stage, seemingly frustrated by a draft impacting their throwing.
Both players' averages shot up after the interval and an 11-dart break from Humphries put him into the lead for the first time.
It turned out to be a lead he never lost as each leg until the last one went to throw after that.
Littler finished with an average just over 100, while Humphries was on 98 per cent, but both players were below 30 per cent with their checkouts.
Luke Littler 10 Gerwyn Price 7
Not the first time in his short but spellbinding career, Littler returned to the stage after the interval of a major fixture and turned on the style.
Trailing 6-4 at the break, he levelled the match in no time and climbed the gears as he went on to win six of the last seven legs in a golden spell.
No one has caused him more trouble than Price over the first 18 months of his professional career and it looked like the Welshman was going to prosper again in a match surprisingly full of break of throws.
But Littler had a word with himself at the break and returned to the stage a different animal, producing the type of sequence which has defined his short career where his ability to get on a roll means he is never out of a match.
'The first 10 legs I went 6-4 down and I went off stage and needed to get myself up for it,' he said on stage.
'The first five or six legs I was nervous, but I love coming on after a break.
'I relaxed myself and got the job done.
'I stormed off the stage but that was just in my own head, I sat down had a drink, cooled myself down and told myself I like to come out after a break. I got the job done.'
LITTLER IS INTO THE FINAL! 🏆#PLDarts25 pic.twitter.com/JgwSLv3cix
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 29, 2025
He finished the contest with an average of 104.64 compared to Price's 95.37, but his 34 per cent on the doubles was lower than of late and a main part of the reason why he fell behind.
128 FROM THE NUKE! ☢️ Luke Littler has arrived at The O2! A 128 checkout to draw level at 3-3 with Gerwyn Price! 📺 https://t.co/CxOorrFXK9 #PLDarts25 | Play-Offs SF1 pic.twitter.com/JofJa6R5dl
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 29, 2025
A highlight was his 128 checkout to break Price and level matters at 3-3.