2024 began with one Luke overcoming another but soon we were into selection controversy and more on darts social media chat than from an Irish auctioneer. Should they pick a teenager who was even too young wear the sponsors name on his jersey. Was there a risk of damage to the phenom’s long term career? A few months later Luke Litter put all such nonsense to bed. Harry Masterson summarised the reaction for DartsWorld 586:
“There were people doubting me when I was selected, but now I’ve picked up the trophy. They’re not doubting me anymore!”
LUKE Littler’s day of darting destiny came at London’s O2 Arena, defeating Michael Smith and then World Champion Luke Humphries, to win the 2024 BetMGM Premier League, whilst also pinning a perfect leg in the Final.
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The Nuke claimed £275,000 in prize money, beating the World Number 1 (11-7) in the Final and winning the darting roadshow on debut.
The repeat of the World Championship Final in the Premier League showcases that the two Luke’s are the best players in the world right now, with the pair also finishing first and second in the league table.
The 2 Luke’s walked onto the stage for the Final and there was nothing to split them at the break, with both breaking throw once to leave the contest deadlocked at 5-5.
Littler though returned to hit the 2nd 9 Darter in the tournament, pinning double 12 for a 141 finish and sending the 14,000-sellout crowd crazy.
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The 17-year-old then found a crucial break of throw to put daylight between himself and the World Champion, with the score at 7-5.
Littler found double tops with his first dart to prevail an 11-7 champion, winning the darting roadshow on his debut and writing another chapter, in what is turning out to be a remarkable tale so far.
“I’m a major winner! It feels incredible. It’s so good to win in front of my family. I was saying to Luke,”I didn’t know what to do after I won!”
“There were people doubting me when I was selected, but now I’ve picked up the trophy. They’re not doubting me anymore! I have been practising really hard today. I was so focused, and I’m just so happy to add my name to the list of major winners.”
Luke Humphries reflected after another entertaining contest, saying he loved playing Littler on the big stage.
“I was trying to stick in there, but credit to Luke, he was fantastic. Tonight Luke was much stronger than I was, and if you look at the season as a whole, he deserved to be Premier League champion.”
“I think we’re the best two players in the world at the moment, and it was another great battle. I just love playing him, and we’re going to have plenty more battles in the future. I’m really proud to make the final. Of course I’m gutted not to win, but I’ve made six out of seven major finals now, and I can only build on this.”
The Premier League has seen its fair share of tungsten quality across the 16 nights played, including an entertaining battle between Littler and Michael van Gerwen in Nottingham.
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The Nuke produced the highest average of the event in beating the Green Machine 6-2, scoring 114 whilst also missing double 12 for a perfect leg.
Michael played very well himself having scored just shy of 111 and on another day, the result would have gone in his favour.
Littler though has experienced a dream campaign, beating the PDC’s chosen field to finish top of the table, before going on to win the lot in the Capital.
The Nuke picked up numerous Quarter Final successes early on, so was always adding to his points tally, despite not going on to win the night.
The World Youth Champion opened his account in Belfast on Night 9, before adding to his Night wins in Manchester on Night 10, Liverpool on Night 13, and Aberdeen on Night 14.
Gerwyn Price was the other player to land the perfect leg in the Premier League, striking perfection in his 6-3 Semi Final win against Michael Smith in Manchester.
The Welshman has always had a habit of hitting a 9 darter on the darting roadshow, finding one this campaign and 2 on the same night in 2022.
Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen included hat tricks for consecutive Night wins, with Michael opening well, and Luke catching up before the halfway mark.
Mighty Mike put huge distance between himself and the rest after Night 4 in Newcastle, winning on Tyneside to follow on from successes in Berlin and Glasgow.
World Champion Humphries won his first night after beating Michael Smith 6-3 in the Final in Brighton. Cool Hand included a top performance at the Brighton Centre, averaging 113.71 in beating Rob Cross 6-3 in the Semi Finals, with the 2018 World Champion averaging 108 himself in a high-quality contest.
The Red Dragon player can be proud of his debut campaign, reaching the Final on his first attempt, whilst claiming a quarter of the overall league phase in night wins.
But it was the other Luke who garnered the plaudits, as 17-year-old Luke Littler became the 8th winner of the PDC Premier League at his first attempt.
Images: PDC
Words: Harry Masterson
Originally published in DartsWorld Magazine Issue 586
Magazine Pages/Graphics: Darts World Ltd
