Luke Littler cemented his position at the summit of the Premier League Darts leaderboard with a dramatic 6-5 victory over fellow Englishman Luke Humphries in the Night 13 final held in Aberdeen. The win marked Littler's fifth consecutive nightly triumph, a run that has propelled the 19‑year‑old to the top of the table and underscored his rapid rise in the sport. This showdown was historic for the season, as it was the inaugural final contested between the world’s top two ranked players. Humphries, who had not reached a final since Night Six in Nottingham, entered the match eager to reclaim his momentum after a loss to Jonny Clayton on that earlier occasion.
Clayton, meanwhile, was displaced by Littler in Aberdeen, as the younger star secured back‑to‑back nightly wins despite enduring a chorus of boos from sections of the crowd. The final began with a flourish from Littler, who opened the first leg in just eleven darts, setting an early tone of high‑quality scoring from both competitors.
Humphries responded in kind, leveling the match at two legs each with a slick 130 checkout. He then appeared to seize a pivotal break of throw, completing a ten‑dart leg that gave him a 4-3 lead and seemed to tilt the balance in his favour.
Littler, however, demonstrated the composure that has become his hallmark. After holding his own throw to bring the score to 5-4, he launched a remarkable comeback, winning three successive legs to clinch the match 6-5.
His ability to thrive under pressure was evident throughout the night, a trait that Sky Sports commentator Wayne Mardle highlighted when he noted that Littler "handles pressurised moments better than anyone else" and that "no one handles stressful situations on a dartboard better than Luke Littler right now." In post‑match interviews, Littler expressed his ambition to remain at the summit. "I always want to be on the top," he told Sky Sports.
"Jonny [Clayton] might not be as bothered about it, but I want to chase and hopefully break my own record of six nightly wins from 2025." He also reflected on his comfort level on stage, attributing his performance to solid practice sessions and a calm mindset. The atmosphere in Aberdeen was mixed. While the crowd was supportive, Littler admitted it was not as boisterous as he would have liked.
"The crowd were okay tonight, but definitely not the loudest. I think we need another Scottish player in the Premier League to bring the atmosphere up a little bit!" he said, hinting at the potential boost a local hero could provide for future events.
Looking ahead, Littler is already eyeing the next fixture in Leeds. "I can’t wait for Leeds next week," he added, indicating his focus remains on maintaining his winning streak and securing a place in the season’s Play‑Offs.
Other notable results from the night included Jonny Clayton's 6-2 defeat to Gian van Veen in the quarter‑finals, though Clayton has already qualified for the Finals Night at The O2 on May 28, alongside Littler. Van Veen's victory narrowed the gap to Michael van Gerwen, but a 6-3 semi‑final loss to Humphries left both players two points behind the world number one with three nights remaining. Van Gerwen himself suffered a 6-3 loss to Humphries in an earlier quarter‑final, a setback that prevented him from extending his lead over the chasing pack.
Gerwyn Price, however, secured two points with a tight 6-5 win over Stephen Bunting, while bottom‑of‑the‑table Josh Rock appears increasingly unlikely to qualify for the Finals Night after a 6-3 loss to Littler in the opening match. In a semi‑final clash, the world number one Michael van Gerwen was overwhelmed by Littler, who delivered a dominant 6-1 victory, marking his 15th win in his last 16 encounters with the Welshman. This result further solidified Littler's claim as the most in‑form player of the current campaign.
Wayne Mardle offered a broader perspective on Littler's trajectory, recalling his early career achievements: "Before the Premier League started, Littler had four wins in year one, six in year two, and surely it was going to be seven, eight, nine here, but then it kind of stalled for a little bit. But the way he's dealt with it the last two weeks – that final was not a coast, it was a hard game. He gets through all the pressurised moments better than anyone else. That's the difference.
No one handles stressful situations on a dartboard better than Luke Littler right now. That's why he wins." Mardle also analysed the pivotal moments of the final: "When you are 5-3 up in the final, that's a missed opportunity for Humphries. If you've got the throw to win a tournament or a night, you feel like you've had the opportunity.
Unfortunately, Luke Littler decided 'I'm not going to give you a chance to win'. Humphries broke Littler in 10 darts, but he didn't take the opportunity afterwards due to the brilliance of Littler.
He's in a way better spot than he was before the night began, it's three welcome points. He's got to believe he can somehow still make the Play‑Offs, but tonight will still be bitterly disappointing for him." The night’s action, along with highlights and analysis, will be available for streaming on Sky Sports and the NOW platform throughout the remainder of the Premier League Darts season, which continues every Thursday until May. Fans can also follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for the latest updates, videos, and expert commentary as the competition builds toward its climactic finale.