Luke Littler quieted the vocal Liverpool supporters on Night 12, delivering a crushing 6-1 triumph over Jonny Clayton that tightened the race at the summit of the Premier League standings. Before the match, Clayton held a slender lead with 32 points and four weeks of play remaining, while Littler trailed by just three points on 29. Behind them, Gerwyn Price occupied third place with 19 points and Michael van Gerwen sat fourth on 18.
Further down the table, Gian van Veen sat on 14 points and defending champion Luke Humphries was sixth with 13, underscoring how the battle for the coveted Finals Night spot was entering its decisive phase. The victory marked Littler’s fourth nightly win of the season, and the Manchester‑born competitor endured a chorus of jeers from a largely partisan Liverpool crowd that had rallied behind his opponent throughout the evening. Despite the hostile atmosphere, Littler remained composed, especially when it came to finishing doubles, and his clinical performance cemented his push to finish the league campaign in the top position.
"It was a good night. I'm very happy with myself," Littler told Sky Sports after the match.
"Usually the doubling is not there, but I'm very thankful it was tonight. A lot of crucial doubles at crucial times. I'm very close to Jonny now, three points off. I'm going to go chasing – I want to finish top once again – and if it’s not to be, it’s not to be.
But there’s still four weeks to go." In the final against Clayton, Littler surged to a 5‑0 lead, denying the Welshman any early foothold. Clayton’s only early checkout chances were limited to the bullseye, and although he managed to stop the rout and avoid a whitewash, the effort merely delayed the inevitable, with Littler sealing the win on the seventh leg. Littler’s earlier semi‑final against Michael van Gerwen had been a classic encounter.
Van Gerwen produced a vintage display, hitting nine 180s, converting 71% of his doubles and posting a 107.54 average. Yet Littler weathered the storm, turning a 3‑1 deficit into a comeback, adjusting his dart placements and showcasing a superior finishing touch to claim the deciding leg 6‑5.
Even after Littler’s resurgence, the match seemed poised for Van Gerwen when the Dutchman broke Littler’s throw with an 11‑dart finish, moving to a 5‑4 lead and setting up a match‑winning throw. Littler responded by breaking straight back, celebrating the break, and ultimately taking the final leg.
In the climactic moment, the world No.1 struck a 180, set himself up on 46, and finished on the treble 20, handing the crowd a spectacular finish. The quarter‑finals also saw a significant upset for Luke Humphries, whose Premier League finals hopes were severely dented after a 6‑2 loss to Littler. Although Humphries scored heavily, his double conversion rate lagged at just 18%, allowing Littler to race to a 4‑0 lead and eventually a comfortable victory.
This defeat marked Humphries’ seventh loss to Littler in their last eight meetings, highlighting a growing rivalry. Clayton, meanwhile, secured his place in a sixth nightly final by edging Gian van Veen 6‑5 in a tightly contested match. Van Veen started strongly, taking a 2‑0 lead, but Clayton’s battle‑hardened experience shone through as he weathered multiple breaks of throw, held his own, and produced a massive 121 checkout to level the match at 3‑3.
Clayton then delivered a spectacular 156 checkout, moving one leg away from victory. Van Veen fought back, breaking again to tie the match at 5‑5, but after missing a match dart at the bull, Clayton responded with a maximum and finished on double 16 to clinch the win.
Earlier in the evening, Clayton had also survived a nail‑biting 6‑5 quarter‑final against hometown favourite Stephen Bunting. The match was a pure throw‑and‑hold battle, and Clayton’s composure under pressure allowed him to seal the decider on double 8, much to the disappointment of the Liverpool crowd that had been backing Bunting. This consistency added to Clayton’s impressive Premier League résumé, marking his ninth quarter‑final victory across the twelve‑week season.
Other notable results included Gian van Veen’s 6‑4 victory over Gerwyn Price, a match in which van Veen debuted new darts and demonstrated his growing confidence. Michael van Gerwen also enjoyed a smooth night, dispatching Josh Rock 6‑3 with a comfortable margin. As the league approaches its climax, the question of who will ultimately lift the Premier League Darts trophy looms large.
Defending champion Luke Humphries will be looking to retain his title, while the likes of Littler, Clayton, and van Gerwen remain firmly in contention. Fans can follow the drama each Thursday until May on Sky Sports, and the action is also available for streaming via NOW. The race is tight, the points are shifting, and every leg could prove decisive as the competitors vie for the coveted top spot and a place in the season‑ending Finals Night.