Photo credit: www.skysports.com
Luke Littler showcased his exceptional talent with a commanding 6-1 victory over Luke Humphries during the Premier League Darts Night Eight in Newcastle, further solidifying his position at the top of the standings.
This win marks Littler’s sixth appearance in a Premier League final, of which he has now secured four victories—including previous wins in Glasgow, Brighton, and Cardiff.
Notably, this was Littler’s second triumph over Humphries in the current season, having previously edged past the world number one in a closely contested 6-5 match in Glasgow.
One of the standout achievements from this season includes Littler hitting over 100 maximum scores, reaching this remarkable milestone in just 171 legs, while no other player has yet surpassed the 50 maximums mark.
Expressing his sentiments after the match, Littler admitted to feeling fatigued before facing Humphries and mentioned that he initially lacked motivation to take the stage.
As it stands, Littler has amassed 26 points at the midpoint of the Premier League, while Humphries trails in second with 18 points. Michael van Gerwen holds third place with 13 points, followed by Gerwyn Price and Rob Cross, both with 12 points, the former ahead due to an impressive number of night wins.
“I don’t really remember how we performed; we were both feeling tired,” Littler reflected. “That’s the nature of playing three games in one night. However, I’m thankful to have come through,” he continued, emphasizing the competitive spirit required to excel in the sport.
In the finals, Littler quickly asserted his dominance, racing to a 3-0 lead while capitalizing on missed opportunities from Humphries. After further extending his advantage to 4-0, Humphries managed to claim a leg after overcoming a challenging break, but Littler soon regained control and closed out the match with a stylish 106 checkout.
During the night’s events, Newcastle United players Harvey Barnes, Dan Burn, and Kieran Trippier were spotted in the audience, cheering for local star Chris Dobey.
Premier League Darts 2025: Night Eight Results
Quarter-finals:
- Luke Littler 6-0 Stephen Bunting
- Gerwyn Price 2-6 Rob Cross
- Luke Humphries 6-3 Chris Dobey
- Michael van Gerwen 5-6 Nathan Aspinall
Semi-finals:
- Luke Littler 6-3 Rob Cross
- Luke Humphries 6-5 Nathan Aspinall
Final:
- Luke Littler 6-1 Luke Humphries
Littler Makes History as Premier League Reaches Midpoint
Littler’s route to the final included a decisive 6-3 semi-final win against Rob Cross, where the young talent clinched three consecutive legs and demonstrated remarkable power scoring.
He also marked the occasion by achieving his 100th maximum in the Premier League, demonstrating his rising status in the sport.
Despite experiencing a hostile reception from some fans at the beginning, Littler swept past Stephen Bunting with a clinical 6-0 victory in the quarter-finals, averaging over 110 and executing impressive checkouts of 101 and 110.
This loss for Bunting solidifies his standings at the bottom of the league table, as he remains winless through the first half of the season.
Meanwhile, Humphries showcased his resilience in the semi-final, recording an impressive 107 average to narrowly defeat Nathan Aspinall in a tense final leg.
The match saw Aspinall initially take a lead with a brilliant 142 checkout but ultimately succumb to Humphries’ experience as he secured three consecutive legs to clinch the match.
Humphries began the evening strong, surpassing local favorite Chris Dobey with a 6-3 victory, despite the home crowd’s support for Dobey.
Amidst the cheers for heroes from the Carabao Cup, Dobey struggled with his doubles, remaining near the bottom of the standings.
Aspinall’s performance also stood out, as he eliminated Michael van Gerwen in a thrilling 6-5 match during the quarter-finals.
Cross, starting with an impressive 6-2 win over Gerwyn Price, utilized his scoring abilities to dominate the first half of the match, culminating in a standout 129 finish to secure his place in the latter stages of the tournament.
Upcoming Fixtures in the Premier League
The Premier League Darts will continue on Thursday, April 3, at the Uber Arena in Berlin. The lineup includes Michael van Gerwen facing Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals, while Nathan Aspinall will compete against Stephen Bunting, and Chris Dobey will challenge Luke Littler.
Fans can catch Night Nine of Premier League Darts live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+ starting from 7 PM on Thursday.
Sky Sports remains the exclusive broadcaster for the Premier League Darts in 2025, offering comprehensive coverage of the event along with other major darts tournaments.
Source
www.skysports.com