He was the heavy favourite to take the crown for a second year in a row. Two out of two. Record points tally. No bother. Light work. But sometimes things don’t work out as they are supposed to.
‘I haven’t had any practice yet’, Luke Littler told Sky Sports three hours out from his semi-final clash with Gerwyn Price. By the end of the night he was claiming his records wouldn’t be broken – though in defeat.
‘If I turn up there’s only one way he’s going and that’s home,’ Price, meanwhile, said of the first match of the night. But there was only ever really going to be one result in game one.
Two years ago, there were a large number empty seats at the top of the O2 Arena when Michael van Gerwen won the last of his seven Premier League titles. This year’s play-offs were sold out long before any of the four players competing could even think about the night. You wonder why.
There were a few Nathan Aspinall shirts among the 15,000 fans in attendance – blending in with the fancy dress. The odd Price clobber. A fair amount reading Humphries’ ‘Cool Hand’ nickname. But the purple of the shirt that has become so synonymous with Littler’s staggering rise over the last 18 months covered the Arena.
This night, though, was about Humphries. So much of the attention has been on Littler. Littler this, Littler that. Well, stand up the World No 1. This is still his sport – at least for now.
Luke Littler came out fighting after losing the Premier League final against Luke Humphries
Humphries was crowned champion for the first time to complete the triple crown title
The best two players in the world faced off in the final in a rematch of last year’s final
Humphries and Littler are the best of friends as well as the biggest of rivals. The final swayed left and right, this way and that. In the end, Luke was the winner. But not Litter – Humphries. The best in the world and, now, the reigning Premier League champion.
Littler is a showman. The more experience he’s picked up on this journey, the more confident he has become. And, in the first semi-final, when Pitbull’s Green Light bellowed out in the O2, it was go time.
Price will always be a controversial character but his talent goes without saying. Last year he said he wasn’t even going to play in the competition – yet here he was on finals day. If he fancies it, he can cause destruction.
Littler had wanted top spot in the league phase so he could play in the first semi here. He did that comfortably. Probably thought he’d be playing Aspinall, but that didn’t bother him really.
Price had won three nights out of the 16 in the build-up to the play-offs. He absolutely flew out the blocks, breaking Littler in three of his first four opportunities. A 128 checkout and his first 180 – his 170th of the competition – not enough to get the defending champion rolling.
Price took out 132 via two bullseyes and didn’t look back from there. Littler, who had been up to his usual playful antics with the crowd, ran off the stage at the interval, seemingly rattled. And he came out a different animal – levelling up almost instantly before Price took out double seven to once again break. Cue signature roar.
Soon enough, though, we were again level, as Wayne Mardle and Mark Webster had called before the game. Littler then made it four out of five since the break and led for the first time. Then, the world champion hit the accelerator and left the Ice Man in his rear view mirror. A 105 average to Price’s 95. Final: booked. But just.
In the other semi-final, world No 1 Humphries was looking to avenge his defeat by Littler in last year’s final and take home the crown for the first time. He faced off against good friend Aspinall – the clunky, heart-on-the-sleeve star who some said was only in the competition because of his Mr Brightside walk on. No chance.
Little cut a frustrated figure early on in his semi-final, but bounced back after the interval
He eventually saw off Gerwyn Price (right) to set up yet another final against Humphries
Humphries (right) got the better of Nathan Aspinall (left) in the second semi-final of the night
Aspinall had been tipped by some to cause an upset but succumbed to Humphries’ class
If there’s one thing about Nathan Aspinall, it’s that he hates to be written off. And his k-flex are fancy. But ‘the ultimate underdog’, as he is now being coined, gave himself a pep talk, put down the golf clubs and averaged 105 at the interval. The score was 5-5, but Humphries was cutting a frustrated figure, and dashed to the toilet at the break.
Like Littler, Humphries came out swinging after the break but Aspinall, the crowd behind him, did not give up. He was there every step of the way, as he often is. He is one of the best in the world for a reason.
But, depending on who you ask, Humphries is THE best in the world. And the best in the world dispatch of their opposition. That’s what Cool Hand did, winning 10-7, and he set up a final against Littler once again.
It was the match everyone wanted to see. The two best in the world battling it out, 17 months on from the first time in the final at Alexandra Palace.
Humphries was victorious that day. Littler has had his fair share too. But get used to this. A week ago in Aberdeen they put on one of the best Premier League matches ever. This was far from that – complaints of a draft and perhaps nerves playing a role.
Both of these men have been booed at times this year but Humphries copped the most of it during the walk-ons. The crowd didn’t take long to remind everyone listening that there is indeed only one Luke Littler.
Humphries was rocked early as he missed six darts at double to hold. Littler took advantage. Humphries got on the board to make it 3-1 with a nice two-dart combo to take out 66 and a clunky leg with Littler stuck on double one got us back on throw. But these two throw quickly, and before you could blink it was 5-5 at the interval.
Humphries broke right out the blocks to lead for the first time and once again seemingly had a new lease of life after the interval.
Humphries cut an emotional figure as he lifted the Premier League title in front of a sold out O2
Littler, meanwhile, admitted he was pleased that the 17-week-long tournament was over
The game threatened to race away as the two Lukes threw quicker and better. The game had become a best of six – the format they have been used to in this year’s tournament – and it was running away. Crucially, though, Humphries had the break.
And it was that break that proved pivotal. Littler continued to hold, but just could not break his arch rival. A nervy double two took him to one leg away and left Littler needing to win three legs on the trot.
He couldn’t muster one. Humphries, the 11-8 winner in the final, threw his final dart after pinning a final double worth £275,000. Just the £125,000 for Littler.
After a moment, though, Humphries let out a roar. He wasn’t the fan favourite against either Aspinall or Littler, but remains top of the tree. He cut an emotional figure as he lifted the trophy, and an air punch as his prize money was announced. Finally, the crowd mustered a cheer. Confetti fell, Humphries kissed his gold as I Predict a Riot played in the Arena. Maybe it was always supposed to be this way.
‘I had a little bit of a think after the game,’ a reflective Littler admitted to Sky Sports after the game. ‘No one likes losing but I’m fine and glad to say it’s over, it’s been a tough 17 weeks and I’m very happy it’s over. Back next year.
‘I have set many records and personally I don’t think they’ll be broken. I am going to go next year and try and break my own records.’ Those records include the most 180s in a season, most nightly wins and the most points. You wouldn’t bet against him breaking more next year.
Littler may be the face of darts, but he is still not world No 1. Humphries won everything the year Littler burst onto the scene and is defending a lot of prize money. Littler, naturally, wants his spot.
‘We all know Luke is defending a lot of prize money this year,’ he exclusively told Mail Sport via BetMGM on Wednesday. ‘For myself I am hoping he doesn’t defend it all to remain No 1 but In can only do so well for myself. I want to get No 1 before the World Championship starts.’
The two Lukes have been tipped to dominate darts for years to come following their successes over the last 18 months
Humphries had been booed by a number of fans in attendance but was cheered by the end
The focus was on Littler, but the night ended with Humphries kissing the Premier League trophy as I Predict A Riot played in the O2 Arena
These two will join forces in the World Cup in a couple of weeks. Good luck to anyone that comes up against England.
But, after that, they will go back to facing off and recommence the rivalry that already feels as though it could dominate this sport for decades. They will trade blows in the likes of the World Matchplay, the Grand Prix and the Grand Slam.
What will catch the eye, though, is the World Championship. That is a World Championship that Littler will, probably no matter what happens for the rest of the year, be heavy, heavy favourite to defend. He’s just 18, in case you haven’t heard. A scary, yet exciting, rise.
