Littler beats Humphries to go top of Premier League

World number one Luke Littler won his fifth night of the Premier League Darts season to return to the top of the table.

The 19-year-old backed up his win in Liverpool last week with another impressive performance in Aberdeen to climb above Jonny Clayton.

The pair are already guaranteed a place at the season-ending play-offs at London’s O2 Arena on 28 May, but it was a big night for the chasing pack with world number two Luke Humphries reaching just his second final of the season.

He took Littler to a last-leg decider – the fourth between the pair in 13 weeks – but the teenager came out on top.

Humphries broke in leg seven, capitalising on Littler missing on bullseye, and then held to move within one leg of a first night win of the year.

But Littler, who is now one night win away from matching his record-breaking tally of six last year, claimed three legs on the spin.

He broke in leg 10 set up the decider and despite missing three match darts on his favourite double 10, he wrapped victory with his fourth.

In a high-quality affair, Littler averaged 104.11 to Humphries’ 103.10.

“I always want to be on the top and I think Jonny [Clayton], I don’t know if he’s much bothered about it,” Littler told Sky Sports.

“He just wants to get to the O2 and, obviously, we’ve both got Qs next to our names.

“Now it is just time to chase and hopefully break my own records.”

Aberdeen marks the start of the home stretch, and with two play-off spots remaining the players spoke repeatedly about points being vital.

For Humphries, it was described as a “do-or-die night” by Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle.

The defending champion was more relaxed, saying he did not feel much pressure because of the size of the gap – which stood at five points at the start of the evening – between him and fourth spot.

There was a change of approach at the oche too, with a much slower and considered throw, and it paid dividends as he reached his first final since week six.

There was a huge exhale of relief and an animated fist pump after his quarter-final victory over seven-time winner Michael van Gerwen, who occupies the final play-off berth.

Van Gerwen’s Dutch compatriot Gian van Veen also chipped away at his deficit with an impressive quarter-final victory over Clayton.

Humphries and Van Veen were on the same side of the draw in Aberdeen so the former’s victory in the semi-final was another confidence-booster and means the three are split by just two points.

Gerwyn Price struggled in his quarter-final against Stephen Bunting but rallied to win and pick up two points that consolidate his place in third.

But with Price and Van Gerwen facing Clayton and Littler respectively in Leeds next week, the chasing pack may feel their Premier League hopes are well and truly alive.

Quarter-finals

Josh Rock 3-6 Luke Littler

Stephen Bunting 5-6 Gerwyn Price

Jonny Clayton 2-6 Gian van Veen

Luke Humphries 6-3 Michael van Gerwen

Semi-finals

Littler 6-1 Price

Van Veen 3-6 Humphries

Final

Littler 6-5 Humphries

Thursday, 7 May – First Direct Arena, Leeds

Quarter-finals

Gerwyn Price v Jonny Clayton

Luke Littler v Michael van Gerwen

Josh Rock v Luke Humphries

Gian van Veen v Stephen Bunting

Premier League Darts is played across 16 initial weeks in the league stage with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final each night.

Each of the eight players is guaranteed to face the other seven in the quarter-finals in weeks one to seven and 9-15, with week eight and week 16 fixtures compiled according to the table. It means we will get fourth v fifth in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off spots potentially on the line.

Players earn two points per quarter-final win, an additional point if they win their semi-final and five for winning the night.

The top four players after the group stage progress to the play-off night at London’s O2 Arena on 28 May, with first facing fourth and second against third in a best-of-19-leg match. The final, which is the best of 21 legs, follows.

If players are level on points after the 16 weeks, then places are decided by nights won and then matches won.