Luke Littler secured the top spot on the Premier League Darts leaderboard with his fifth consecutive nightly victory, edging out fellow Englishman Luke Humphries 6-5 in the Night 13 showdown held in Aberdeen. The match was historic for being the first final of this season’s league to feature the world’s two highest‑ranked players, and Humphries was making his first final appearance since Night Six in Nottingham, where he fell to Jonny Clayton.
That earlier defeat proved pivotal, as Clayton was later overtaken by the 19‑year‑old Littler, who claimed the lead in Aberdeen despite enduring a chorus of boos from sections of the crowd. Littler opened the final with a flawless 11‑dart leg, signalling his intent, while both competitors exchanged high‑quality darts in the early stages.
Humphries responded by leveling the score at two legs each with a spectacular 130 checkout and seemed to seize a crucial break of throw, producing a 10‑dart leg that put him ahead 4‑3. Littler, known affectionately as “Cool Hand,” held his own serve and found himself just one leg away from victory.
However, Humphries could not convert, and Littler rallied dramatically, winning three consecutive legs to clinch the match 6‑5. The win not only gave Littler a second straight nightly triumph but also added three valuable points to his total, solidifying his position at the summit of the table.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, the young champion said, “I always want to be on the top. Jonny [Clayton] might not be overly concerned about it, but I want to chase and hopefully break my own record of six nightly wins from 2025.” Littler highlighted his comfort on the oche, noting that his practice sessions had been productive and that he felt at ease on stage.
He also commented on the atmosphere, observing, “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 added that he was already looking ahead to the next night in Leeds. Elsewhere in the competition, Jonny Clayton, who suffered a 6‑2 quarter‑final loss to Dutch newcomer Gian van Veen, has already secured a place at the Finals Night scheduled for May 28 at The O2, alongside Littler. Two spots remain open as the season approaches its climax.
Van Veen’s impressive run, which included a 6‑3 semi‑final defeat of Humphries, narrowed the gap between him and Michael van Gerwen, though both now trail the world number one by two points with three nights left. Van Gerwen himself was knocked out 6‑3 by Humphries in a crucial quarter‑final earlier in the evening, missing an opportunity to extend his lead over the chasing pack.
Gerwyn Price, however, added two points to his tally by edging out Stephen Bunting 6‑5 in his quarter‑final. Bunting, together with bottom‑of‑the‑table Josh Rock, appears to be out of contention for a Finals Night berth. Rock was soundly beaten 6‑3 by Littler in the opening match of the night, while the world number one van Gerwen dominated Price 6‑1 in their semi‑final, marking his 15th win in the last 16 against the Welshman. Veteran commentator Wayne Mardle of Sky Sports offered his perspective on Littler’s meteoric rise: “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 continued, analysing the pivotal moments: “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 Premier League Darts race remains wide open, with several players still mathematically capable of reaching the Play‑Offs. Fans can follow the action each Thursday until the season finale in May on Sky Sports, or stream live coverage through the NOW platform.
For the latest updates, highlights, and expert analysis, stay tuned to Sky Sports’ darts coverage and the official Premier League Darts website.