Premier League Darts LIVE RESULTS: Luke Littler secures record-breaking FIFTH nightly win by beating Van Gerwen in final
LUKE LITTLER has written his name in the history books by securing a record-breaking FIFTH nightly win at the expense of Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen.
The teen sensation narrowly beat Stephen Bunting 6-5 in the quarters before slaying Nathan Aspinall in the semis with the same scoreline.
He then came from two legs down to overcome Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen in the final.
And he is now the record holder for the most amount of nightly wins in a single campaign.
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'Right direction'
Van Gerwen himself has said that reaching the final is a step in the right direction, despite the loss.
He wrote on social media: "Not the end I hoped for, but definitely a step in the right direction.
"Birmingham, thanks for the support!"
Credit: Getty Littler edge
Luke Littler has continued his ongoing mind games with Michael van Gerwen - claiming he has a clear edge over the Dutchman.
He said: "I think for myself, once you get so many wins over somebody, I think you beat them near enough every time.
"Obviously he gave me a really good game then but I have beaten him once again.
"It feels amazing setting records in the Premier League but it’s only my second year.
"It’s a good thing to be clear at the top of the table and heading to The O2, just making sure you are top to get that first semi-final in."
Credit: Rex
Asp favour
The teenager also joked that he'd done big pal Nathan Aspinall a favour with his final win over Michael van Gerwen.
The Asp and Mighty Mike are currently fourth and fifth in the standings and separated by only a point - the top four reach the grand final.
Littler added: "There’s still a few weeks left to play. It’s getting a bit nitty gritty at four and five with Nathan and Michael.
"I’ve done Nathan a bit of a favour with this one.
"It’s going to be a good few weeks watching the other guys battling while I’m cruising at the top.
“You have to enjoy it. I’ll certainly relax. Obviously Luke [Humphries], he’s not playing his best darts at the minute.
"I’m gradually getting that points advantage over him."
'Cruising'
Luke Littler secured his place at the O2 Arena for the Grand Finals on May 29.
And The Nuke - who won a record-breaking fifth night on Thursday - has said he can now "relax" as he watches other players battle it out over the remaining places.
He said: “I’m very happy. It’s been a few weeks since I won my first game. Once I got over the finish line against Stephen I was confident. I got away with it against Nathan.
“I’ve always thought in my head the first semi-final at the O2 it’s so crucial because it’s not that big of a turnaround.
“But to win this tonight, nine points clear. I’m confident that I’ll stay at No 1."
More darts action!
The darts calendar doesn't stop (although it will for Luke Littler).
The roadshow rolls on into Sindelfingen, German, for the European Grand Prix, but The Nuke has opted against playing.
A lovely £30,000 is up for grabs to the winner and many of the world's top players - including Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price - have decided to take part.
Seeded players enter at the second round on Saturday, however.
The tournament kicks off at 12pm, with SunSport offering full coverage of the event, of course.
History maker
Last night, Luke Littler BROKE the record for the most nightly wins in a Premier League Darts season, winning his fifth in Birmingham.
The Nuke sits at the top of the Premier League Darts table, and is the first player to mathematically secure his spot at the O2 in May.
However, a play-off spot is not enough for The Nuke, as he wants to go into finals day on top of the league.
Credit: Getty ICYMI: Last night's results
Quarter-finals
- Littler 6-5 Bunting
- Aspinall 6-3 Dobey
- Humphries 5-6 Price
- Cross 4-6 Van Gerwen
Semi-finals
- Littler 6-5 Aspinall
- Price 3-6 Van Gerwen
Final
- Littler 6-4 Van Gerwen
Game over for Cross and Dobey?
The final spot in the top four seems to be between Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall at the moment.
Stephen Bunting is already out of the mix, but this week could be the end for Chris Dobey and Rob Cross.
Cross is now a nightly win behind Aspinall, and Dobey is two points behind Cross.
The pair will both need to win a night each, and hope the three above them all pick up no points for the rest of the season if they are to have any hope.
Credit: Alex Young/Every Second Media
Where to next?
Night 14 should see Cool Hand Luke Humphries given a bit of extra motivation, as he returns to Leeds.
The quarter-finals look like this:
- Rob Cross vs Gerwyn Price
- Nathan Aspinall vs Luke Littler
- Michael van Gerwen vs Luke Humphries
- Stephen Bunting vs Chris Dobey
Another night to forget for Cool Hand
Luke Humphries was knocked out by Gerwyn Price for the second time in two week of Premier League Darts action.
Last week it was in the final phase, and this week it was in the quarter-final phase.
Moreover, Gerwyn Price's win now means that Humphries may have invertedly fallen into the pack chasing a top four finish.
If he loses to Van Gerwen next week, and Aspinall & Price go far on the other side of the draw, Humphries could be in trouble.
Credit: Getty Luke Littler secures the O2
All the talk is about The Nuke breaking the record for nightly wins, and rightly so, but Littler is also gearing up for a HUGE end of season party at the O2.
His victory in Birmingham means he has secured a spot on finals day in May.
He also extends his lead of Luke Humphries in second place, and having spoken of his desire to play in the second game for a longer break, went a long way to doing so tonight.
Credit: Getty How the table looks after Birmingham
- Luke Littler…35
- Luke Humphries…26
- Gerwyn Price…22
- Michael van Gerwen…21
- Nathan Aspinall…19
- Rob Cross…14
- Chris Dobey…12
- Stephen Bunting…8
Full results from Birmingham
Quarter-finals
- Littler 6-5 Bunting
- Aspinall 6-3 Dobey
- Humphries 5-6 Price
- Cross 4-6 Van Gerwen
Semi-finals
- Littler 6-5 Aspinall
- Price 3-6 Van Gerwen
Final
- Littler 6-4 Van Gerwen
Littler's route to victory
Luke Littler picked up a record victory in Birmingham, but how did he get there?
- QF: 6-5 win vs Stephen Bunting
- SF: 6-5 win vs Nathan Aspinall
- F: 6-4 win vs Michael van Gerwen
History maker
Luke Littler has BROKEN the record for the most nightly wins in a Premier League Darts season, winning his fifth in Birmingham.
The Nuke sits at the top of the Premier League Darts table, and is the first player to mathematically secure his spot at the O2 in May.
However, a play-off spot is not enough for The Nuke, as he wants to go into finals day on top of the league.
Credit: Getty Match result: Luke Littler 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
HISTORY!
Luke Littler has won a record breaking FIFTH night of Premier League Darts action.
A missed dart at 12 has cost almost Littler, but MvG showed no composure as he missed double 20 and double 10.
Littler nails double 20, and wins another night.
Luke Littler* 5-4 Michael van Gerwen
Littler put the afterburners on in that leg, with The Nuke having a few darts at a finish before MvG even got down to one.
Double 20 was a pain for him again, but the double 10 came to the rescue, and clutched up for Littler.
Luke Littler 4-4 Michael van Gerwen*
Littler got the crowd excited on 164, nailing treble 20 and 18, but he could not find the bull.
As such, Van Gerwen behind him then nails double 8, and we are back on level terms here.
Luke Littler* 4-3 Michael van Gerwen
A cruel game for MvG, he goes five into a nine dart leg, but Littler is the one who takes the lead.
A unorthodox double 13 finish from Littler, but they all count.
Luke Littler 3-3 Michael van Gerwen*
Well, MvG misses double tops, and then Littler nails it.
Van Gerwen has started to slow down here, and after being in control of the early going, has given up the throw.
Luke Littler* 2-3 Michael van Gerwen
A Shanghai finish for Littler, and he finally puts aside his differences with double 20.
He goes 20-treble 20-double 20 for a fine checkout.
Luke Littler 1-3 Michael van Gerwen*
There seems to be a bit of respect between Michael van Gerwen and double tops.
It is like there's a magnet between his darts and the double 20 segment, he wins a third leg on double 20 of this final.
Luke Littler* 1-2 Michael van Gerwen
Littler misses double 20 again, will do no wonders for his confidence at all.
However, with two darts in hand, he nails double 10, and finally finishes a leg.
Luke Littler 0-2 Michael van Gerwen*
Littler almost takes out 132 on bull-bull, but can't take double 16.
MvG wasting no time behind him, and takes double 20 to go 2-0 up.
Fine margins, if two darts land the other side of the wire for Littler, he is 2-0 up, not 2-0 down here.