by WARRINGTON teenage darts sensation finally a PDC Premier League night winner.
Luke “The Nuke” Littler broke his duck at the ninth attempt as he saw off stable Nathan Aspinall 6-4 in the final in Belfast.
That came after impressive wins over world champion Luke Humphries, who was denied the chance of a fourth night in a row, and Michael Van Gerwen to propel him up to second in the overall table.
“I’m happy to win. It’s my first,” the 17-year-old told Sky Sports on stage after beating Aspinall.
“As people may have seen, I changed my throw to take that little bit of extra time before I shoot the next two. I have practiced more and it has paid off.
“I had a good practice game with Rob Cross before we came out tonight, we both averaged over 100.
“He gave me up for it and I’m glad I got him out here.”
Luke Littler with his winner after winning in Belfast (Image: PA Wire)
Luke Littler finally breaks his duck
It was Littler’s first final since Night Two, when he lost the decider to Van Gerwen in Berlin, and it was Aspinall’s fourth final in six weeks.
Immediately, however, Littler looked home as he nailed a superb check out of 136 to take the lead.
That seemed to spur Aspinall into life, though, and he reeled off three goals in a row to find himself the favorite for a second win of the night in 2024.
Just as it looked like more frustration was coming for Littler, he regrouped and fired off an impressive bull-25-bull finish of 125 to break back and tie the game at 3-3.
Aspinall looked shaken and Littler took advantage, consolidating the break to check out 70 on his own throw before Aspinall broke again to check out 51 to move to the brink of victory.
The Belfast crowd felt their hero was close to providing the glory and needed to reassure them as Aspinall rushed them as he tried to break, with the Stockport man taking 70 to stay alive.
Littler would not be denied though – he missed his best double 10 for a match-ending 140 check but on his next visit, he took his fourth game.
Littler is congratulated on his victory in the final, Nathan Aspinall (Image: PA Wire)
‘Luke The Nuke’ hits MVG again
In Littler’s last meeting with Van Gerwen he produced perhaps his best individual display of the Premier League season so far, averaging 114 to hammer the Dutchman in the Night Seven quarter-final in Nottingham.
And while this final performance with four wasn’t quite as literal, it was just as dominant as it punished MVG for off-color.
Littler had the scoring advantage but the struggle of both players to find trebles was evident as the first maximum of the match did not arrive until the fifth leg, which the teenager won to take the match 3-2. on spending
That meant taking full control, punishing Van Gerwen’s sloppiness in coming up with the first break and as MVG looked to go straight back, consolidated a superb check out of 110 advantage Littler and it brought too much joy to the teenager.
Van Gerwen kept himself alive in the next leg, but it was only a temporary reprieve as Littler cruised to victory and his first runner-up match at double 12.
Littler is celebrating taking a 4-2 lead in his semi-final win over Michael Van Gerwen (Image: PA Wire)
Littler ends Humphries’ winning streak
While Littler doesn’t usually get too excited on stage, the celebration that followed Humphries’ 10-point double told you how much stock he put into that particular game.
The chips seemed stacked against him against the man he had defeated for the past three nights, but early on it was clear the teenager was dialed in.
He took advantage of some unfortunate doubles from Humphries to go 2-0 up early on and when he started the third leg with a 180, he seemed to be in the mood.
However, Humphries is not the world number one and Premier League leader for nothing – he came back with a throw break and then Littler fought back in the next leg to take the match. balanced.
Humphries sensed his moment to attack, but Littler stayed with him as both men traded ever-increasing checks to defend their throws.
First it was 64 from Littler, then 84 from Humphries and after Littler went 4-3 up to check out on 85, he attacked but a match-high “off” of 148 saw Humphries keep him out.
It was then the Newbury man’s turn to attack and he darted to bull for a decisive break, but Littler held on and in the next leg, his seventh 180 put him up for a dart match at double 20, but he just missed it . the high side to allow Humphries to take it to a decider.
Littler had the darts and took full advantage to end Humphries’ chances of an unprecedented fourth night in a row, with the Warringtonian finishing with a match average of 102.02.
Luke Humphries congratulates Littler after junior quarter-final win in Belfast (Image: PA Wire)
PDC Premier League Darts, Night Nine results, SSE Arena, Belfast
Quarter finals
Luke Humphries 5-6 Luke Littler
Michael Smith 4-6 Michael Van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall 6-5 Gerwyn Price
Rob Cross 3-6 Peter Wright
Semi-final games
Luke Littler 6-3 Michael Van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Peter Wright
Final
Luke Littler 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
