Luke Littler cemented his position at the summit of the Premier League Darts leaderboard with a dramatic 6-5 victory over his fellow Englishman Luke Humphries in the Night 13 final held in Aberdeen. The win marked Littler's fifth consecutive nightly triumph, a streak that propelled the 19‑year‑old to the top of the table and underscored his rapid rise in the sport.
The final was historic for another reason: it was the inaugural showdown of the season between the world’s top two players. Humphries, who had not reached a final since Night Six in Nottingham, was eager to add another win to his résumé. In that earlier final he had fallen to Jonny Clayton, a player who was subsequently overtaken by Littler in Aberdeen as the teenager claimed back‑to‑back nightly victories despite enduring a chorus of boos from sections of the crowd.
Littler opened the match with an impressive 11‑dart leg, signalling his intent to dominate. Both competitors displayed high‑quality scoring early on, trading legs and keeping the tension palpable. Humphries levelled the score at 2‑2 with a smooth 130 checkout, then appeared to seize a pivotal break of throw by completing a 10‑dart leg that gave him a 4‑3 lead. At 5‑4 in Littler’s favour, the young champion seemed one leg away from clinching the title, but Humphries fought back, forcing a deciding leg.
In that final showdown Littler surged, stringing together three consecutive legs to edge out his rival 6‑5. The comeback highlighted his composure under pressure and his ability to capitalize on key moments.
After the match, Littler told Sky Sports, "I always want to be on the top. Jonny [Clayton] might not be as concerned about it, but I want to chase the record and hopefully break my own streak of six nightly wins from 2025." He added that his practice sessions had been productive and that he felt comfortable on stage, noting, "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!" Looking ahead, Littler expressed excitement for the upcoming fixture in Leeds, saying, "I can’t wait for Leeds next week." His optimism comes as the league tightens, with several players still in contention for the coveted Play‑Off spots.
Jonny Clayton, who suffered a 6‑2 defeat to Gian van Veen in his quarter‑final, has already secured a place at the Finals Night at The O2 on May 28, joining Littler. Two additional spots remain open, heightening the stakes for the remaining competitors. Van Veen’s victory over Clayton narrowed the gap between him and Michael van Gerwen, although van Gerwen’s own 6‑3 loss to Humphries in a crucial quarter‑final meant both men now trail the world No.1 by two points with three nights left in the campaign.
Gerwyn Price, meanwhile, added two points to his tally with a 6‑5 quarter‑final win over Stephen Bunting. Bunting, along with bottom‑of‑the‑table Josh Rock, appears to be out of the running for a Finals Night berth. In the opening match of the night, Littler dispatched Rock 6‑3, and later in the semi‑final he thrashed Price 6‑1, marking his 15th win in his last 16 encounters with the Welshman.
These results further solidified Littler’s reputation as a clutch performer. Sky Sports darts analyst Wayne Mardle praised Littler’s recent form, stating, "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 highlighted a key turning point, "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'." He continued, "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 also featured several other notable performances. Van Gerwen’s loss to Humphries prevented him from extending his lead over the chasing pack, while Price’s narrow win kept his playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, the crowd reaction in Aberdeen was mixed; some sections expressed disapproval, yet the overall atmosphere remained respectful of the high‑calibre darts on display. As the Premier League Darts season progresses, fans can follow every Thursday night match on Sky Sports or stream the action via NOW.
The competition remains wide open, with the leaderboard shifting after each night and the ultimate champion still undecided. The race to the Play‑Offs promises more drama, surprise upsets, and moments of brilliance as the world’s elite dart players vie for the coveted title.