Luke Littler cemented his position at the summit of the Premier League Darts leaderboard after securing his fifth consecutive nightly victory, edging out fellow Englishman Luke Humphries in a nail‑biting 6‑5 showdown in Aberdeen on Night 13. The encounter was historic, marking the first time this season that the tournament’s top two ranked players faced each other in a final.
Humphries, who had not reached a final since Night Six in Nottingham, fought valiantly but ultimately fell short. Earlier in the season, Humphries had been denied the title by Jonny Clayton, a defeat that opened the door for Littler to surge ahead in the standings. In Aberdeen, the 19‑year‑old continued his impressive run, not only clinching a second straight nightly win but also enduring a chorus of boos from a vocal crowd, which seemed only to sharpen his focus.
The final began with flair as Littler produced an 11‑dart leg, showcasing his precision alongside Humphries, who matched him with high‑quality scoring in the opening exchanges. Humphries levelled the match at two legs each with a smooth 130 checkout, then appeared to seize a pivotal break of throw, completing a 10‑dart leg that gave him a 4‑3 lead.
With the throw in his favour, Littler was just one leg away from victory, but Humphries held firm, pushing the contest to a decisive ninth leg. In a dramatic swing, Littler rallied, winning three consecutive legs to overturn the deficit and seal the match 6‑5. After the win, Littler told Sky Sports, "I always want to be on the top.
Jonny [Clayton] might not be as concerned, but I want to chase and hopefully break my own record of six nightly wins from 2025." He added that his practice sessions had been going well and that he felt comfortable on stage, noting that the crowd, while supportive, was not as loud as he would have liked. "I think we need another Scottish player in the Premier League to bring the atmosphere up a little bit!" he said, before expressing excitement for the upcoming night in Leeds.
The night also featured several other key matches that reshaped the league table. Jonny Clayton, who had been defeated 6‑2 by Gian van Veen in his quarter‑final, has already secured a place at the Finals Night at The O2 on May 28, alongside Littler.
Two spots remain open for other contenders. Van Veen’s victory narrowed the gap between him and Michael van Gerwen, although both players now trail the world number one by two points with three nights left after Humphries beat Van Gerwen 6‑3 in a crucial quarter‑final. Gerwyn Price added two points to his tally by edging Stephen Bunting 6‑5, while bottom‑of‑the‑table Josh Rock appears to be out of the Finals contention after a 6‑3 loss to Littler in the opening match. In a semi‑final that highlighted the dominance of the league’s elite, world number one Michael van Gerwen thrashed Stephen Bunting 6‑1, marking his 15th win in his last 16 encounters with the Welshman.
Wayne Mardle of Sky Sports Darts reflected on Littler’s rapid rise, noting that the young prodigy had amassed four wins in his first year, six in his second, and was expected to continue that trajectory. "The way he handled the pressure in the last two weeks, especially that final, was impressive. He navigates high‑pressure moments better than anyone else right now," Mardle said.
Mardle also highlighted a turning point in the match: "When you are 5‑3 up in the final, that’s a missed opportunity for Humphries. If you have the throw to win a tournament or a night, you feel the weight of that chance.
Littler decided ‘I’m not going to give you a chance to win.’" He praised Littler’s composure, noting that despite Humphries breaking Littler’s throw in ten darts, Littler’s brilliance in the subsequent legs secured the win. The result propels Littler further into the playoff conversation, giving him three valuable points and a psychological edge. While Humphries will be disappointed, he remains within striking distance of the top spots, and the remaining nights promise more intense battles as players vie for the final playoff positions.
Fans can continue to follow the Premier League Darts action each Thursday until the season finale in May on Sky Sports, with live streaming available via NOW. For the latest updates, highlights, and expert analysis, stay tuned to Sky Sports' coverage and their social channels, including WhatsApp updates for real‑time news and video content.