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Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Premier League Darts prize money as Luke Humphries beats Luke Littler in final
The Premier League Darts Finals Night was a spectacle to remember. Young prodigy Luke Littler was set to defend his title at the O2 Arena in London, but fell short against Luke Humphries in a thrilling final. At just 18, Littler clinched the Premier League Darts title last year after being selected as one of four wildcards following his surprising performance at the 2024 World Darts Championship. He triumphed on four nights during his debut season before besting Michael Smith in the semi-finals and securing the title with an 11-7 victory over Humphries. 'The Nuke', the current world champion and UK Open winner this year, sits second in the PDC Order of Merit. He defeated Gerwyn Price in his semi-final, while Humphries overcame Nathan Aspinall, but it was Cool Hand who emerged victorious in the final with an 11-8 scoreline. Littler had previously topped the regular season standings with 45 points, winning six of the 16 weekly events, leading many to anticipate him finishing the job. He started strong against Humphries, only for his opponent to make a stunning comeback. The Premier League season boasts a total prize pot of £1million, with Humphries pocketing £275k for his win. Runner-up Littler will take home £125k for his efforts, while the losing semi-finalists will receive £85k each, reports the Mirror. The remaining four players in the eight-man league earned between £60k and £75k, with the money increasing by £5k increments based on their final league position. Teen darting sensation Luke Littler had already pocketed an additional £60k before tonight's showdown, having snagged a £10k bonus for each weekly win in the regular season. He sits comfortably on the PDC Order of Merit with earnings of £1.3m from ranked tournaments alone - a mere £573k shy of world number one Humphries. This impressive sum does not take into account Littler's prize money from events like Premier League Darts that aren't ranked, nor his sponsorship deal takings. On his trail to darts glory, Humphries joined the elite circle of Triple Crown winners following his first-ever Premier League success - a feat he shared with competitors Price and Aspinall, who were also vying for their inaugural victory in the prestigious 2025 play-offs. Littler must now set his sights on 2026 if he aims to join the ranks of the rare multi-time Premier League champions - a club currently boasting the likes of Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor, and Michael van Gerwen, with Van Gerwen towering at seven title victories. Humphries, basking in the glow of his triumph, expressed gratitude to Sky Sports: "This one means the world to me, that was the one I was missing," and acknowledged the difference it made to him: "It was the one I wanted, I have done it now. If I don't win another title, I am happy as I have done the three hardest ones to do." He went on to thank darting legend Phil Taylor for his invaluable guidance and support: "Phil Taylor has given me a lot of support over the last couple of weeks so, Phil, if you are watching, thank you. He gave me a lot of advice and that extra support. "I love Luke to bits. He is one of my best mates on tour and he is so good," he said of Littler. "He wasn't at his best tonight, neither was I. I thought the game was going to go away from me at 3-0 down. He is a great player, a great lad, and I will get in early before he trounces everyone."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How does Premier League Darts affect PDC's Order of Merit?
Luke Humphries' first Premier League Darts title has no effect on the Professional Darts Corporation's Order of Merit. That is because the Premier League is not classed as a ranking event, meaning prize money is not counted in the two-year period which is used to determine the Order of Merit. Humphries came from behind to beat Luke Littler 11-8 in Thursday's 2025 Premier League Darts final at the O2 Arena in London. Littler, 18, headed into Thursday's play-off night as defending Premier League champion and the most recent winner of the World Darts Championship. The teenager is second in PDC's Order of Merit - behind only Humphries, who he has faced in the past two Premier League and World Darts Championship finals. Littler is yet to play a full two-year cycle of ranking events, and in the second half of 2023 alone, Humphries earned £563,250 in prize money from ranked events. Humphries is £573,750 ahead of Littler in the PDC Order of Merit. There are still five of the sport's major events to take place in this year prior to the 2026 World Darts Championship, which starts in December. In 2023 alone, the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals helped Humphries earn a combined total of £468,500. Given how clear Humphries and Littler are in prize money compared to the rest of the PDC's Order of Merit, it is unlikely either player will be caught until the next World Championship. The winner of 2026's top darts prize will receive £1,000,000 - double the amount Littler received this year. Humphries has prize money of £1,873,750 from PDC ranked events in the past two years. Littler's total is £1,300,500. Michael van Gerwen is third on £734,750. This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. This question 'Will winning Premier League Darts put you to world number one?' was asked by David in Wakefield. Thank you for your question, David. Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions. We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do. The team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and pundits. We will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting events. Our coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio. Premier League Darts final schedule and prize money Who has qualified for the 2025-26 Champions League? Why does French Open not have electronic line calling? What are the Enhanced Games and why are they controversial?
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
How much Luke Littler could earn from Premier League Darts if he wins title
The eagerly awaited Premier League Darts Finals Night has arrived. Teen sensation Luke Littler is poised to defend his title at the O2 Arena in London tonight. Last year, the 18 year old secured the Premier League Darts title after receiving one of four wildcard invitations following his unexpected performance at the 2024 World Darts Championship. In his debut season, Littler triumphed on four nights before defeating Michael Smith in the semi-finals and clinching the title with an 11-7 victory over Luke Humphries. 'The Nuke', the reigning world champion and this year's UK Open winner, is second in the PDC Order of Merit. However, he faces a tough challenge to retain his Premier League title on Thursday evening, with Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall and Humphries also competing in the play-offs. Littler topped the regular season standings with 45 points, winning six of the 16 weekly events, and will face fourth-placed Price in the semi-finals. The victor of their match will face either Aspinall or Humphries in the final, battling for the Premier League trophy and the top prize money. The Premier League season boasts a total £1million prize pot. The player who triumphs in the play-offs will pocket £275k, reports the Mirror. The runner-up will receive £125k for their efforts. Meanwhile, the losing semi-finalists will each take home £85k. The remaining four players in the eight-man league earned between £60k and £75k, with the money increasing by £5k increments depending on their final league position. Littler has bagged an extra £60k before any results tonight, thanks to the £10k bonus for weekly victories in the regular season. Per PDC Order of Merit stats, the 18 year old's racked up £1.3m from ranked tournaments, which sees him £573k shy of the world number one Humphries. This figure doesn't include Littler's earnings from non-ranked events like Premier League Darts, nor his sponsorship deals income. But, Littler's eyes are set on clinching his second Premier League champion title. Unlike him, the other three contenders in the play-offs haven't yet captured the title, despite having all previously reached the final. A win here would elevate Littler as just the fourth player to grab multiple Premier League championships, joining legends like Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor, and Michael van Gerwen. Still, he would have significant ground to cover to reach Van Gerwen's impressive seven trophies. Wrapping up the regular season, Littler celebrated topping the Sheffield night with a win over Humphries. His six nightly triumphs didn't just create a new record, surpassing the prior four, but also set a historic points record. After his Sheffield conquer, Littler took to Instagram stating: "Got the record, got top spot. O2 lets get it done." Meanwhile, Humphries already had his gaze fixed on the trophy, even ahead of their latest clash. "You know you have to raise your game against Luke," Humphries stated earlier this month. "Winning in Leeds last week will give me great confidence, but the goal now is to be Premier League champion. Whatever happens in the next two weeks, that's my focus."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Premier League Darts win would not make Littler number one
Should Luke Littler successfully defend his Premier League Darts title this week, he will not go top of the Professional Darts Corporation's Order of Merit. That is because the Premier League is not classed as a ranking event, meaning prize money is not counted in the two-year period which is used to determine the Order of Merit. Littler, 18, heads into Thursday's play-off night as defending champion and the most recent winner of the World Darts Championship. He is second in PDC's Order of Merit - behind only Luke Humphries, who he has faced in the past two World Championship finals. Littler is yet to play a full two-year cycle of ranking events, and in the second half of 2023 alone, Humphries earned £563,250 in prize money from ranked events. Humphries is £573,750 ahead of Littler in the PDC Order of Merit. There are still five of the sport's major events to take place in this year prior to the 2026 World Darts Championship, which starts in December. In 2023 alone, the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals helped Humphries earn a combined total of £468,500. Given how clear Humphries and Littler are in prize money compared to the rest of the PDC's Order of Merit, it is unlikely either player will be caught until the next World Championship. The winner of 2026's top darts prize will receive £1,000,000 - double the amount Littler received this year. Humphries has prize money of £1,873,750 from PDC ranked events in the past two years. Littler's total is £1,300,500. Michael van Gerwen is third on £734,750. This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. This question 'Will winning Premier League Darts put you to world number one?' was asked by David in Wakefield. Thank you for your question, David. Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions. We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do. The team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and pundits. We will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting events. Our coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio. Premier League Darts final schedule and prize money Who has qualified for the 2025-26 Champions League? Why does French Open not have electronic line calling? What are the Enhanced Games and why are they controversial?
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Why Premier League Darts win would not make Littler number one
Should Luke Littler successfully defend his Premier League Darts title this week, he will not go top of the Professional Darts Corporation's Order of is because the Premier League is not classed as a ranking event, meaning prize money is not counted in the two-year period which is used to determine the Order of 18, heads into Thursday's play-off night as defending champion and the most recent winner of the World Darts is second in PDC's Order of Merit - behind only Luke Humphries, who he has faced in the past two World Championship is yet to play a full two-year cycle of ranking events, and in the second half of 2023 alone, Humphries earned £563,250 in prize money from ranked is £573,750 ahead of Littler in the PDC Order of are still five of the sport's major events to take place in this year prior to the 2026 World Darts Championship, which starts in 2023 alone, the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals helped Humphries earn a combined total of £468,500. When can Humphries and Littler be caught? Given how clear Humphries and Littler are in prize money compared to the rest of the PDC's Order of Merit, it is unlikely either player will be caught until the next World winner of 2026's top darts prize will receive £1,000,000 - double the amount Littler received this has prize money of £1,873,750 from PDC ranked events in the past two years. Littler's total is £1,300,500. Michael van Gerwen is third on £734, article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. This question 'Will winning Premier League Darts put you to world number one?' was asked by David in Wakefield. Thank you for your question, David. What is Ask Me Anything? Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio. More questions answered... Premier League Darts final schedule and prize moneyWho has qualified for the 2025-26 Champions League?Why does French Open not have electronic line calling?What are the Enhanced Games and why are they controversial?
