Luke Littler recorded his second nightly win in this year’s Premier League after prevailing in night five in Brighton.
The world champion defeated Chris Dobey and Michael van Gerwen before defeating Nathan Aspinall 6-3 in the final on a night that saw two nine-darters hit.
Speaking to Sky Sports after his triumph, Littler said: “Luke [Humphries] was clear but with him losing I was just concentrating on my own game. Coming off the back of the UK Open I was playing really well and I think I played very well tonight which is why I picked up another trophy. I’ve always been confident in my own ability but the way my darts are going in at the minute, they’re probably the best I’ve ever played on a consistent basis.”
Littler’s run to nightly glory began with a quarter-final clash against fellow Englishman Chris Dobey. Hollywood started off well, taking a break in the second leg to put himself 2-0 up. This did not phase Littler however, as he broke straight back to bring the game back onto throw. The match developed into a pattern of holds of throw, which included a ton-plus finish from Dobey, when he took out a 104 in the ninth leg. The contest went all the way to a last-leg decider in which the 34-year-old had the darts, but The Nuke would have the final say, sealing a break of throw with a 110 out to secure a 6-5 victory which saw him safely through to the semi-finals.
In the other quarter-finals, Michael van Gerwen defeated Gerwyn Price 6-2, Stephen Bunting lost yet again, falling to Nathan Aspinall by the same scoreline, and the highlight came in the match between Rob Cross and Luke Humphries, where Cool Hand managed to record a nine-dart leg. This wasn’t enough to take the match however, as Voltage prevailed 6-4.
Littler was to face Dutchman Michael van Gerwen in the semi-final in what is becoming a familiar encounter. The match started in a relatively even manner, with a particular highlight being a 110 out from Mighty Mike in the third leg. Leg four began a run of three straight breaks, which when over had Littler 4-2 up. The world champion was able to press home the advantage he had created for himself, breaking once more with an 84 out to take the last two legs, and confirm an impressive 6-2 victory which moved him into his second straight nightly final.
In the other semi-final, there was to be even more nine-dart drama between Rob Cross and Nathan Aspinall, as Voltage went from having one hit against him in the quarters, to hitting one himself. It would be the second game in a row where the nine-dart leg was hit by the losing player however, as The Asp squeezed through 6-5.
The first key moment of the final came in the third leg, with Littler recording the first break to give himself a 2-1 lead, and the overall advantage in the match. At one point it looked as if he may have given that advantage away, as Aspinall broke back to level the match at 3-3, and put himself back on throw. This was to be a false dawn for The Asp however, as The Nuke broke straight back to regain the lead. The world champion surged from there, and didn’t lose another leg, breaking one more time in leg nine to record a 6-3 victory which in turn gave the teenager his second nightly win of this year’s Premier League.
Luke Humphries remains at the top of the table, but his first quarter-final exit tonight means he remains on 15 points. Littler’s nightly win means he now has 13 points, and cuts the gap to the top to just two. The top four is completed by Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen, who both have eight points. Next up for the Premier League is a date in the Midlands, with Nottingham playing host to the action.