Luke Littler celebrated his second nightly win of the Premier League season in Dublin on Thursday and the 2024 champion vowed to chase down league leader Jonny Clayton.
Littler produced a remarkable comeback from 5-0 down to beat Gerwyn Price in a last-leg decider and win night seven in Dublin. He had earlier beaten Stephen Bunting 6-3 in the opening match at the 3Arena and then fought back to edge Michael van Gerwen in a last-leg semi-final.
In the final, Price stormed into a 5-0 lead, but after Littler finally took a leg and jokingly gestured to the crowd the momentum shifted as Price faltered. Littler survived five match darts and forced a deciding leg, clinching the title by taking out 81 on double 15.
“I played very well against Stephen and got the two points,” Littler said. “Then it was another brilliant game with Michael. The final? Nothing to say. I am just closing that gap on Jonny. Obviously I have finished top the last two years and I want to do it again. Jonny and the start he has had, it is good to see I am in second, but I am right behind him now and chasing.”
The world No 1 moves up to second in the table on 16 points, three behind Clayton, with Price third.
Littler drew the ire of the Dublin crowd but praised the atmosphere at the 3Arena. He said he is still learning not to react to the crowd and that the noise can turn quickly from boos to cheers. Asked about changing to a green shirt for Dublin, Littler joked he might consider it far in the future but not anytime soon.
Night Eight of the BetMGM Premier League will take place in Berlin on Thursday March 26. Littler begins his bid for a third nightly victory of the season against Stephen Bunting at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Other quarter-final fixtures:
– Jonny Clayton vs Josh Rock
– Luke Humphries vs Michael van Gerwen
– Luke Littler vs Stephen Bunting
– Gerwyn Price vs Gian van Veen
Quarter-final fixtures for 14 of the 16 league nights are in draw bracket order, with Nights Eight and 16 determined by league standings heading into each night.
Luke Humphries will be defending his Premier League title this year.