Littler wins thrilling final against Humphries to clinch second Premier League title

[p]In a stunning final between the world's top two players, world number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/littler-luke/0URN6Xks/"]Littler[/a] came out on top after a remarkable battle against old foe [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/humphries-luke/n34VOAWo/"]Humphries[/a] to claim [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/darts/humphries-l-n34VOAWo/littler-l-0URN6Xks/summary/stats/?mid=Sv5peAm3"]an 11-10 victory[/a] and secure the £350,000 top prize in front of a packed crowd in the capital.[/p][p]The reigning world champion averaged a remarkable 111.67 and hit 12 maximums, while Humphries averaged 105.60 in a final that oozed quality.[/p][embed guid="321d353d-58fa-4495-b3ce-ff93f31f0d7c" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2060104812641869958" social-type="twitter" /][p]Humphries, bidding to retain the title he won last year, produced a superb display of finishing throughout much of the contest and repeatedly punished Littler's missed doubles to stay alive.[/p][p]The defending champion took an early 2-0 lead before Littler settled into the match, reeling off three straight legs to move ahead at 3-2.[/p][p]The quality then rapidly escalated as Humphries landed a brilliant 134 checkout before a clinical 121 bull finish helped him surge into a 6-3 advantage, with both players averaging comfortably above 110 at the interval.[/p][embed guid="e9a3b222-3fcd-4f6e-a45a-608e9f503bf9" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2060105134013665521" social-type="twitter" /][p]Littler responded in spectacular fashion. The teenager clawed his way back into the contest with a string of huge checkouts and relentless scoring, including an 11-dart leg finished with an 84 checkout to level at 7-7.[/p][p]With the pressure mounting, the final swung dramatically from one player to the other.[/p][p]Humphries looked poised to retain his crown after moving 9-8 ahead, but Littler replied immediately with a composed 56 checkout before threatening a nine-darter in the next leg after opening with two maximums and seven perfect darts.[/p][p]That leg moved Littler 10-9 ahead and within touching distance of the title, yet Humphries refused to go away.[/p][p]After Littler missed a match dart, Humphries pinned double four to force sudden death and seize the throw advantage for the deciding leg.[/p][p]The momentum briefly appeared to be with Cool Hand, but a trebleless visit at the worst possible moment opened the door once more.[/p][p]Littler capitalised ruthlessly, eventually mopping up 54 to clinch the Premier League crown and complete another landmark night in his extraordinary rise.[/p][h2]Emotional Littler [/h2][p][b]"It was a rollercoaster first four weeks, bottom of the table, but then the fifth night I won my first night," [/b]Littler told [i]Sky Sports[/i] immediately after the victory, sharing a hug with his opponent on stage.[/p][p][b]"I had to pick myself up after some tough times. I think I had a 79 average in Brighton, or something like that, and it was tough. But I am here with the trophy.[/b][/p][embed guid="b73f3857-6884-4dd3-9f0c-c4acdebf96ed" url="https://x.com/SkySportsDarts/status/2060107114190721159" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"After Brighton and the incident in Manchester, I was sat at home saying to Faith (his girlfriend): 'I don't want to do it anymore, just the crowd every week'. I said to her: 'I'm down bad'."[/b][/p][p][b]"If I lost, no one would have found out what I said on stage," [/b]Littler added afterwards in his press conference.[/p][p][b]"But I felt I had to get it out there. I hope it's a turning point. I'm not asking for sympathy; I told the world how I was feeling about the Premier League.[/b][/p][p][b]"After the Brighton game and the Manchester game, I feel I proved everyone wrong again.[/b][/p][p][b]"It's been tough; it took me six weeks to win a night. I was playing OK, but nowhere near my best. But I picked up momentum."[/b][/p][h2]Price and Clayton go to the wire[/h2][p]Humphries had looked in superb form throughout the evening. The world No. 2 - who had struggled for form initially but found his rhythm at a pivotal moment in the season - defeated [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/clayton-jonny/tx0y2xRD/"]Jonny Clayton[/a] 10-9 in a tense semi-final marred by whistling in the crowd.[/p][p]The Ferret had threatened to pull clear after reeling off several legs in succession, but Humphries held his nerve in sudden death to reach the final.[/p][embed guid="b52e9731-8a0c-4820-80e4-f8c66f55951a" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2060089162707960105" social-type="twitter" /][p]Littler's route to the title was equally dramatic.[/p][p]The teenager overcame Gerwyn Price 10-9 in a fiery semi-final that saw the Welshman roar back from 9-4 down to force a deciding leg. Littler missed six match darts and had to endure some colourful on-stage antics before eventually pinning double 16 to narrowly escape with victory.[/p][p]Littler entered Finals Night having already secured top spot in the league phase for a third consecutive season after six nightly wins across the campaign.[/p][embed guid="5c5258c8-ecea-4bfd-8275-871cac1a4714" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2060074832864178488" social-type="twitter" /][p]Humphries, meanwhile, was attempting to join [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/taylor-phil/fi5POt44/"]Phil Taylor[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-gerwen-michael/SU4UkKsm/"]Michael van Gerwen[/a] as only the third player to retain the Premier League crown. Instead, the night belonged to Littler once again.[/p][p]Already the world champion and the dominant force throughout the league campaign, the 19-year-old added another major televised title to his rapidly growing collection with one of the finest performances of his career.[/p][p]The pair will now focus on reuniting as England's entrants for the upcoming World Cup of Darts.[/p][h2]Premier League Finals Night results[/h2][p][b]Semi-finals[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/darts/littler-l-0URN6Xks/price-g-8dDDoW0B/summary/stats/?mid=bJFQgtke"]Luke Littler 10-9 Gerwyn Price[/a][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/darts/clayton-j-tx0y2xRD/humphries-l-n34VOAWo/summary/stats/?mid=WWDYiKJ7"]Luke Humphries 10-9 Jonny Clayton[/a][/p][p][b]Final[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/darts/humphries-l-n34VOAWo/littler-l-0URN6Xks/summary/stats/?mid=Sv5peAm3"]Luke Littler 11-10 Luke Humphries[/a][/p]