Luke Littler has etched his name into Premier League history, becoming the first player ever to achieve five nightly victories in a single season. This remarkable feat was cemented with a thrilling 6-4 win over Michael van Gerwen in Thursday’s final, further solidifying his dominant position at the top of the leaderboard.
The world champion’s journey to victory in Birmingham began on Night 13 with a challenging quarter-final clash against Stephen Bunting. In a nail-biting encounter at the Utilita Arena, Littler emerged victorious with a 6-5 scoreline, needing a final-leg decider to overcome “The Bullet’s” determined resistance.
This victory wasn’t just another win; it was a record-breaking performance. Littler showcased his exceptional skill by hitting four 180s during the match, surpassing a personal best he set last year. Remarkably, during his debut Premier League season, the then-18-year-old already achieved an impressive 128 maximums en route to claiming the title. His performance on Night 13 brought his current season total to 129, a number he’s significantly increased by the end of the night.
The remarkable achievement didn’t stop there. Following his quarter-final triumph, Littler faced another intense battle, this time against his friend Nathan Aspinall in the semi-finals. This match, another 11-leg thriller, saw Littler add another seven 180s to his already impressive tally. He then added two more in the final against Van Gerwen, culminating in a staggering 138 maximums – and counting – in the 2025 Premier League. This unprecedented number of 180s further cemented Littler’s place in the history books.
His final victory against Van Gerwen was particularly dominant. Littler displayed exceptional consistency, achieving an incredible three-dart average of 102.50, significantly outperforming Van Gerwen’s 94.31.
Sky Sports
Sky SportsThis victory has propelled Littler to a commanding nine-point lead over world number one Luke Humphries in the eight-man standings. His impressive 21 match wins this year are a testament to his consistent performance and unwavering determination. With three regular season nights remaining in Leeds, Aberdeen, and Sheffield, followed by the playoffs at London’s O2 Arena on May 29th, Littler’s lead appears secure, though the competition remains fierce.
In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Littler expressed his delight: “I’m very happy. Obviously, the fifth win, it was going to come at some point, but it’s been a few weeks since I actually won my first game. So once I got over the finish line against Steve, I was confident, and then I got away with it a bit against Nathan, but then it was a bit of a rollercoaster. A cracking game [vs Van Gerwen]. I’ve always thought in my head, the first semi-final of the O2, it’s so crucial because there’s not that big of a turnaround.”
He continued, “To win this tonight, I’m nine points clear of Luke [Humphries], so I’m very happy at the minute, and I’m very confident that I’ll stay at the top of the table. It’s getting a bit nitty-gritty at four and five with Nathan and Michael [Van Gerwen], so obviously I’ve done Nathan a bit of a favour there by winning this one. It’s going to be a good few weeks watching those guys fight for top four whilst I’m cruising at the top.”
Meanwhile, Van Gerwen’s quest for his first Premier League victory in 2025 continues. Despite the loss, he remains in a strong fourth-place playoff position, one point ahead of Nathan Aspinall.
Littler’s impressive performance in Birmingham comes after his announcement that he would not be participating in the PDC European Tour this weekend. The young star has opted to withdraw from the European Darts Grand Prix in Germany, adhering to his decision not to compete in the country until October, choosing instead to focus on the European Championship in Dortmund later in the year.