Luke Littler won his third consecutive Premier League Darts night in Leeds, but only after a frantic dash to the arena that included a stop at the post office to send eBay orders. The 19-year-old arrived just minutes before Night 14 began, having left home late and then getting stuck in traffic.
“We were supposed to leave at three, but I wasn’t ready, Faith wasn’t ready, and we were rushing around. Then we went to the post office to send some cards off from eBay — getting all the shipping and tracking sorted. That’s why we were almost late, but we got here in time,” Littler explained in his press conference. “I was driving! It was a bit reckless, but I had to get here. The timing on the sat-nav just kept going up and up. We got here about twenty to seven, quarter to seven, so it all worked out well.”
Despite the lack of preparation, Littler produced a series of huge finishes, including a 141 checkout against Michael van Gerwen and a 146 in the final. He defeated Van Gerwen, his nearest rival Jonny Clayton, and Luke Humphries to seal the nightly win. “Obviously taking out any big shot is always a good feeling. The one against Michael was probably the biggest shot I’ve hit this year,” said Littler.
The night was marked by several last-leg deciders, and Littler backed himself each time. “I’ve said for many years, even when I was on the JDC, I always back myself in a last leg. I just say to myself: it’s do or die, you’ve got to hit it — and that’s what I did,” he said. He also believes he may now be in the heads of his rivals, particularly Humphries and Van Gerwen. “It might be in their heads: ‘Hang on a minute, it’s me against Luke Littler in another last-leg decider.’ I might already have won over them before that leg even starts.”
Littler also revealed a side bet with Jonny Clayton over the Manchester United vs Liverpool match, collecting £50 cash in hand from the Welshman. “I got a nice little £50 off him, cash in hand, so that was nice! We’ll just have to see how the next two weeks play out,” he said. With his spot at The O2 already secured, Littler is now focused on breaking his own record for most nightly wins. “I think the most nightly wins is definitely one to go for. Hopefully I can break my own record.”
