Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
The quest for a record fifth consecutive nightly win in a single Premier League season continues for Luke Littler, as Chris Dobey emerged victorious on night 11 in Rotterdam.
Dobey secured his first nightly title in two years with a decisive 6-2 win over Stephen Bunting, who previously eliminated Littler during the semi-finals. Following a nail-biting match against Rob Cross, where he triumphed 6-5, Littler found himself down 3-2 against Bunting. His attempts to switch barrels, which irked the local audience, were ultimately unsuccessful as Bunting surged to a 5-2 lead.
Littler managed to bring the score to 5-3, igniting a shift in momentum. However, in a critical final leg, he failed to hit double nine while aiming for a checkout of 138, which allowed Bunting to capitalize and secure his spot in the final against Dobey.
The finale was unexpected, featuring two players who had begun the night at the bottom of the standings. Nevertheless, Dobey showcased his form, starting with a 6-3 victory over world No. 1 Luke Humphries, followed by a solid 6-2 win against Nathan Aspinall, the most recent champion.
In the ultimate match, Dobey took control early, building a 4-1 lead as he watched Bunting squander three opportunities on double 19 that could have narrowed the gap. This turning point allowed Dobey to establish dominance, culminating in his first nightly win since the season opener back in 2023.
“Winning feels fantastic,” Dobey expressed. “I always believed I could achieve this. Tonight’s performance was about being at my best, and I’m pleased with my efforts that have helped me re-establish myself in the competition.”
He further noted, “I’m a fighter. I’ve faced situations where I was leading and then lost, but my goal is to reintegrate myself among the top competitors. I’m committed to winning, with no doubts about my capabilities.”
Earlier in the evening, Bunting made headlines by defeating local star Michael van Gerwen, who struggled initially but rallied from a 5-2 deficit to tie at 5-5 before Bunting ultimately edged him out. Littler had a close call in his opening match against Cross, who needed to check out 150 in the deciding leg but missed double 18 after hitting consecutive treble 19s, allowing Littler to clinch victory with a checkout of 145.
Source
www.theguardian.com