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‘I didn’t realise’ – Luke Littler seals ‘new route’ nine-darter that even Michael van Gerwen loved
Luke Littler celebrated wildly after hitting a nine-dart finish in his Premier League victory against Michael Van Gerwen. Littler was in scintillating form as he won Premier League night seven in Cardiff, and successfully opened up a cushion over Luke Humphries at the top of the standings. Littler went wild as he hit a nine-darter in Cardiff ‘The Nuke’ had already got on the right side of fans on the night, beating Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross in dominant fashion with three-dart averages of over 100. He met Van Gerwen in the final, a familiar sight with the pair having shared the oche in this year’s showpiece World Championship finale, which saw the teenager win comfortably. The Dutchman had turned around his recent struggles for form with two seriously impressive victories over crowd favourite Gerwyn Price and Chris Dobey. But he delivered a moment of magic in the Premier League, in the fourth leg of the night’s final. Littler pinned two maximums which sent an anticipating roar up from the largely Welsh crowd. In his final three darts, Littler nailed the treble again before taking a route on the 17’s before nailing a double 15. The 18-year-old jumped in the air for joy and ran to the side of the stage, celebrating wildly. It sent the crowd into raptures, with beer flying everywhere and the crowd losing their minds. “I didn’t even realise the double 15 was in until Huw (Ware, referee) shouted it,” said Littler of his final shot afterwards. “So I think that’s the new route to go for this year. Littler crowned a third Premier League Darts win of the seasonGetty Littler hit double 15 to finish off the perfect leg – just as he predicted earlier in the afternoonInstagram View Tweet: https://t.co/glkpN6BbNT “You’ve seen players in the world championships hit the nine and go out in that game, so I had to focus after that. “Michael won the next two legs but I managed to get back into it. It’s good to pick up another nightly win, more crucial points, and to have a six-point over Luke (Humphries) is a good boost for myself.” The perfect leg was Littler’s second of the year, having achieved the feat in a Players Championship 5 against Adam Hunt. Littler went on to take the night victory with a 6-4 margin over Van Gerwen. He averaged a mammoth 112 in doing so, and it appeared he was seemingly invincible on the night. And amazingly, Littler already predicted he would achieve the unique feat on social media in the hours before he faced MVG. Littler went on to win the night, getting one over on Van Gerwen againPDC Littler now holds a six-point lead over HumphriesPDC At 3pm on Thursday, Littler joked on Instagram that his ‘nine-darter in Leicester was 60-51-30 so take a hint’. Hours later, Littler was as good as his word with the perfect leg but admitted he didn’t even know if he had landed perfection until he double checked. “I had no idea,” he said. “I just had to wait for Huw to call it. Is it? Is it? Yeah. “That’s what happens when you win. We get booed as players, but when you hit 180s and [a nine-darter]. “Hopefully another one win next week. Tonight I was really happy with myself, especially at the doubles. “I think I was pretty good. There’s plenty more to come and there’s nine weeks left. “I’ve been playing very well. I’ve not picked up my darts since last Thursday, I’ve had a complete week off. Six points clear now, I’m comfortable.” Littler now goes six points clear of rival Luke Humphries in the overall standings. He needs another 20 points to qualify for the play-offs at London’s O2 Arena on May 29. Van Gerwen showed signs of significant improvement averaging 101.41 against Littler, but it wasn’t enough. Night eight will see Littler and his Premier League co-stars back in action at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle next Thursday.
Luke Littler celebrated wildly after hitting a nine-dart finish in his Premier League victory against Michael Van Gerwen.
Littler was in scintillating form as he won Premier League night seven in Cardiff, and successfully opened up a cushion over Luke Humphries at the top of the standings.
‘The Nuke’ had already got on the right side of fans on the night, beating Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross in dominant fashion with three-dart averages of over 100.
He met Van Gerwen in the final, a familiar sight with the pair having shared the oche in this year’s showpiece World Championship finale, which saw the teenager win comfortably.
The Dutchman had turned around his recent struggles for form with two seriously impressive victories over crowd favourite Gerwyn Price and Chris Dobey.
But he delivered a moment of magic in the Premier League, in the fourth leg of the night’s final.
Littler pinned two maximums which sent an anticipating roar up from the largely Welsh crowd.
In his final three darts, Littler nailed the treble again before taking a route on the 17’s before nailing a double 15.
The 18-year-old jumped in the air for joy and ran to the side of the stage, celebrating wildly.
It sent the crowd into raptures, with beer flying everywhere and the crowd losing their minds.
“I didn’t even realise the double 15 was in until Huw (Ware, referee) shouted it,” said Littler of his final shot afterwards.
“So I think that’s the new route to go for this year.
“You’ve seen players in the world championships hit the nine and go out in that game, so I had to focus after that.
“Michael won the next two legs but I managed to get back into it. It’s good to pick up another nightly win, more crucial points, and to have a six-point over Luke (Humphries) is a good boost for myself.”
The perfect leg was Littler’s second of the year, having achieved the feat in a Players Championship 5 against Adam Hunt.
Littler went on to take the night victory with a 6-4 margin over Van Gerwen.
He averaged a mammoth 112 in doing so, and it appeared he was seemingly invincible on the night.
And amazingly, Littler already predicted he would achieve the unique feat on social media in the hours before he faced MVG.
At 3pm on Thursday, Littler joked on Instagram that his ‘nine-darter in Leicester was 60-51-30 so take a hint’.
Hours later, Littler was as good as his word with the perfect leg but admitted he didn’t even know if he had landed perfection until he double checked.
“I had no idea,” he said. “I just had to wait for Huw to call it. Is it? Is it? Yeah.
“That’s what happens when you win. We get booed as players, but when you hit 180s and [a nine-darter].
“Hopefully another one win next week. Tonight I was really happy with myself, especially at the doubles.
“I think I was pretty good. There’s plenty more to come and there’s nine weeks left.
“I’ve been playing very well. I’ve not picked up my darts since last Thursday, I’ve had a complete week off. Six points clear now, I’m comfortable.”
Littler now goes six points clear of rival Luke Humphries in the overall standings.
He needs another 20 points to qualify for the play-offs at London’s O2 Arena on May 29.
Van Gerwen showed signs of significant improvement averaging 101.41 against Littler, but it wasn’t enough.
Night eight will see Littler and his Premier League co-stars back in action at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle next Thursday.
