Littler: Not Practising but Getting in Rivals' Heads

Luke Littler says he isn’t practising much at home but is still rattling rivals after a third straight nightly Premier League Darts win.

The 19-year-old added Night 14 in Leeds to his recent roll, beating Luke Humphries 6-5 in the final to record a share of the season’s most nightly wins. Littler had earlier edged Michael van Gerwen 6-5 in the quarter-final — including a key 141 checkout — and overcame Jonny Clayton 6-5 in the semi.

That followed another 6-5 victory over Humphries a week earlier on Night 13 in Aberdeen, and Littler says he thrives in deciding legs. He explained he tells himself it’s 'do or die' when it comes to last-leg showdowns and that confidence in those moments has been built since his JDC days.

Littler believes the string of tight wins may be getting into opponents’ heads. If rivals expect another last-leg battle against him, he says it gives him an edge before the leg even begins and forces them to raise their level.

His Leeds night was far from straightforward: traffic delayed him and he arrived less than an hour before his quarter-final, yet he still produced the big checkout and pushed through all three matches. He admits he hasn’t been practising heavily at home recently, preferring to arrive, do a little on the day and perform on stage.

The teenager also accepts the hostile reactions from parts of the crowd come with the territory. He’s focused on keeping the wins coming and on the chance to set a new record for the most nightly wins in a Premier League season.

Littler sits at the top of the table as Premier League action continues, with Night 15 scheduled in Birmingham. Humphries defends the title this year, and fans can follow the remaining Thursday fixtures live on broadcasters covering the event.