Luke Littler is the 2026 Premier League champion, a tag that has been won through so many oncoming obstacles and setbacks which led him to this point. He defeated the world number two and reigning champion Luke Humphries 11-10 in a thrilling final to regain his crown. He hopes that this is now a turning point in terms of crowd reactions after dreading these events.
In a remarkable night of action, all three matches went the distance with the crowd packed into the O2 arena in London being spoilt rotten. Littler averaged an astonishing 111.67 but was still forced to a last-leg decider as Humphries showed his class. After missing the big number, Littler had just one dart at tops, but composed himself and pinned the target before going off celebrating.
“At the minute I just can’t believe I’ve won it,” he said in his press conference. “It’s been an eventful night. Maybe the first time in history — I’ll have to go back and check — but both semi-finals and the final all played every possible leg. I’m just glad to pick up the trophy again.”
It is fair to say that Littler’s Premier League campaign has been turbulent. After an incident involving Gian van Veen in Manchester, hostile and harsh boos have been rung around the arena’s every time Littler’s name has been called. However, the last laugh went to Littler who picked up a second Premier League crown and had the chance to say his piece to the crowd in an emotional interview on stage. “I mean, if I lost, still no one would have found out about what I said on stage,” he added. “But I think I just had to let it out and tell everyone. I think this was the right time. Like you said, I just had to get it out there to everyone.”
He is dearly hoping for the boos to halt and everything to go back to normal once more. “I mean, I hope it’s a turning point. Everything I said on stage tonight, the tears, asking for sympathy — I just told the world how I was feeling during the Premier League. The biggest outcome is sitting next to me.” Littler has got himself a very positive reputation in last-leg deciders, normally coming out on top in them. “Going years back, even to the JDC and WDF days, in the last leg of a set I always back myself,” he stated. “You just think to yourself: throw everything at your opponent. When I saw Luke go off 140, I just had that little bit more momentum. You never want to be against the darts, but I just had to follow Luke and that’s what I did. Got the job done.”
