Luke Humphries went one step better than this time a year ago, as the world number one overcame Luke Littler in a tense Premier League Darts final at the O2 Arena
Revenge is a dish best served 12 months later, and this time Luke Littler was on the sharp end of the swordsman’s epee. In front of a record 14,000 sell-out crowd at London’s O2 arena, Luke Humphries – the beaten finalist last year – completed the Triple Crown of darts by winning his first BetMGM Premier League title.
The world No.1 takes home the £275,000 winner’s loot after prevailing 11-8 against Littler in a patchy final which rarely lived up to the Lukes of Hazard’s highest standards.
Cool Hand Luke’s triumph means he has now won the three biggest prizes in the sport – world title, World Matchplay and Premier League. And his eighth TV major denied Luke the Nuke the chance to crash through the £1 million barrier for prize money in 2025 alone.
Humphries said: “I love Luke to bits, he is one of my best mates on tour and we’ll be teaming up at the World Cup of Darts next month. If we produce our best nobody’s going to touch us.”
He added: “If I don’t win another title, I’m happy because I’ve done the three hardest ones to do. I’ve joined an exclusive group of me, Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.
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“To Phil Taylor, thank you so much. He has given me so much support. He has given me a lot of advice and an extra boost tonight. I’m really happy with that win. I can retire now – I’m done! But seriously, I want to search for more. It makes me want to be a better player.
“I’ve won eight major titles. Now it’s important to finish the end of the season well.”
Littler shrugged: “Nobody likes losing but I’m glad it’s over – it’s been a tough 17 weeks and I’ll be back next year.”
Both players were unhappy about conditions on stage – possibly a draught – and remonstrated with tournament officials backstage during the break.
But whatever the issue, 18-year-old Littler’s hopes of joining Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen as the only players to retain the Premier League crown were gone with the wind.
In the Two Lukes’ ninth meeting in this year’s Premier League, and by far the richest, there were scores to settle.
Humphries was in charge of last year’s final until Littler unfurled a nine-dart perfect leg and disappeared over the horizon with the swag to win his first TV major as a 17-year-old.
And the pair’s previous clash, in Aberdeen a fortnight ago, was pandemonium. The treble 20 bed was carried off on a stretcher after Humphries hit nine maximums and averaged 110… but somehow managed to lose.
Littler won the one-shot competition at the bull backstage for the right to throw first, a trivial footnote in most rivalries but potentially critical when they are so often separated by fine margins.
Since Humphries won a classic World Championship final across town at Alexandra Palace 17 months ago, his meetings with Littler have turned them into the best of enemies.
But as Littler’s star waned, Humphries nailed double 10 – Littler’s favourite – to seal the deal shortly before the first bongs on Nukes at Ten.
A trail which began in Belfast early in February ended with Humphries embracing his family in the VIP seats. Littler didn’t do too badly – his £125,000 runner-up loot and six £10,000 bonus payments for winning half a dozen nights on the 16-week slog through seven countries is smarter than your average teenager’s pocket money.
In his semi-final against fish-and-chip takeaway owner Gerwyn Price, it looked as though Littler had had his chips when he trailed 6-4 at the break.
Price had kicked away a missile, possibly a bottle, which landed on stage before the start – whoever threw it needs a good slap – but the Nuke seemed to lose his bottle at first.
Five of the first seven legs went against the throw and the world champion missed 10 of his first 13 shots at a double.
But Littler gave himself a good talking-to at the interval and he went through the gears, taking six of the next seven legs to reach the final with a 104.64 average.
