Luke Littler is the 2026 Premier League Darts champion after defeating Luke Humphries 11-10 in a stunning final at the O2 Arena in London, edging one of the great Finals Night matches after 17 long weeks of action. The world number one averaged 111.67, hit 14 maximums and survived a ruthless defending champion performance from Humphries, who averaged 105.60 and forced a deciding leg after Littler had missed a match dart. With Humphries unable to reach a double from 156 in the final leg, Littler stepped in to clean up 54 on tops and reclaim the Premier League crown.
It was the third year in a row that Littler and Humphries had met in the Premier League final. Littler won their 2024 showdown, Humphries struck back in 2025, and the latest chapter produced a genuine classic as both players traded 180s, ton-plus finishes, missed chances and emotional swings before Littler eventually crossed the line. Littler arrived at the O2 as the clear leader from the regular league phase after another relentless Premier League campaign. Six nightly wins, 24 matches won and 43 points left him nine clear at the top of the table. Humphries’ route to London was far less straightforward. The defending champion spent much of the campaign fighting around the cut-off line, but his late surge changed the shape of his season. A run of four consecutive weekly finals, including his Night 15 win in Birmingham, carried him to third in the final table with 27 points.
Humphries won the bull-up backstage and made the advantage count immediately, opening the final with a 180 before taking out D20 for a 13-dart hold. He then doubled his lead with an early break, wiring tops for a 151 finish but returning on D10. Littler hit back quickly, punishing missed tops from Humphries with a 52 checkout on tops before levelling on D10. A 94 finish on D20 gave Littler a 3-2 lead and a first break of throw. The response from Humphries was brutal. He missed the bull for a 167 but returned to clean up 25 for 3-3, then produced a 134 checkout, a 112 finish on D20 and a 121 on the bull to put him 6-3 ahead. Littler replied with an 81 finish for an 11-darter to reach the interval 6-4 down.
The standard barely dipped after the break. Littler opened leg 11 with a maximum, added another later and finished 41 in two darts for another 11-darter. Humphries restored his two-leg lead on D10, but Littler punished missed darts to close to 7-6. Littler levelled at 7-7 with an 84 finish for yet another 11-dart leg, only for Humphries to edge back ahead on D10. Littler responded to make it 8-8 in 13 darts. Humphries moved 9-8 up after Littler missed D18 and D9, having earlier wired D16 for a 132 finish. Littler answered with a 56 finish on D20, then produced a 10-darter to break throw and move 10-9 ahead. Littler had a match dart at D20 from 64 in leg 20, but missed. Humphries took out 68 in two darts on D4 to force a deciding leg. In the decider, Humphries failed to reach a double from 156, and Littler sealed an 11-10 victory with a 54 finish in three darts on D20.
Earlier in the night, both finalists were pushed to the very edge by Welsh opponents. Littler looked to have his semi-final against Price under control when he moved 9-4 ahead, but five missed match darts opened the door. Price charged through with a 124 checkout on D11 for 9-8, then wired the bull for another 124, returned to clean up 25 and forced a decider. Littler had the advantage of throw in the final leg, opened with a 180 and eventually pinned D16 to complete a 10-9 win. Price averaged 100.42 to Littler’s 98.47. Humphries then had to survive a similar escape act against Clayton. The defending champion led 6-2 and missed two darts to go 7-2 up, only for Clayton to claw back and move ahead at 8-7 with a 10-dart hold, then go 9-7 in front. Humphries broke on D8 to stay alive, produced a 121 finish to force a deciding leg, then survived a match dart from Clayton at D16 before returning to clean up 25 for another 10-9 win.
