Darts results: Luke Littler wins Premier League title on debut and hits a nine-darter in the final against Luke Humphries

The trailblazing 17-year-old, who shot to stardom during his run to the World Championship final back in January, avenged that Ally Pally defeat to Humphries with a thrilling 11-7 triumph in which he raised the roof at 5-5 when landing his fourth perfect leg of the season.

It was just the second nine-darter ever hit in a Premier League final after Phil Taylor managed two of them against James Wade in the 2010 showpiece and this was more fitting proof that he could enjoy a career just as spectacular as the legendary Power.

Less than six months into his career as a PDC pro, he's now won five titles overall while his cheque for £275,000 takes his overall winnings this season to almost £650,000.

Incredibly Littler's four nine-darters have all come in debut tournaments that he went on to win. Back in January he landed televised perfection on his World Series debut at the Bahrain Darts Masters, then he repeated the feat in his first events on the Players Championship and the European Tours before completing his debut Premier League campaign in spectacular fashion.

His average of 105.60 was also the fourth highest winning average in a Premier League final behind Michael van Gerwen's 112.37 (2018) and Taylor's 111.67 (2010) and 108.36 (2008), while Humphries' effort of 102.47 was the third highest losing average behind MVG's 105.81 (2015) and 102.98 (2014).

Readers of our pre-tournament betting preview might also be celebrating had they backed Chris Hammer's 6/1 tip of Luke Littler to hit a nine-darter during the whole season!

The Nuke had already become the fourth debutant to top the regular season table behind Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Glen Durrant and just like his predecessors, he went on to triumph on Finals Night in front of 14,000 fans with victories over Michael Smith (10-5) and then the world number one.

“I’m a major winner! It feels incredible,” reflected Littler, who averaged around 100 for the entire tournament and crashed in nine more 180s to take his Premier League tally to 127.

“It’s so good to win in front of my family. I was saying to Luke, I didn’t know what to do after I won!

“There were people doubting me when I was selected, but now I’ve picked up the trophy. They’re not doubting me anymore!

“I have been practising really hard today. I was so focused, and I’m just so happy to add my name to the list of major winners.”

Humphries said: “I was trying to stick in there, but credit to Luke, he was fantastic there,” reflected a gracious Humphries, who averaged 102.47 in defeat.

“Tonight Luke was much stronger than I was, and if you look at the season as a whole, he deserved to be Premier League champion.

“I think we’re the best two players in the world at the moment, and it was another great battle. I just love playing him, and we’re going to have plenty more battles in the future.

“I’m really proud to make the final. Of course I’m gutted not to win, but I’ve made six out of seven major finals now, and I can only build on this.”

Earlier in the night, Humphries dumped out reigning champion Michael van Gerwen in convincing style, averaging 101 to close out a 10-5 success and set up another showdown against Littler.

The World Champion – buoyed by a brilliant 132 finish in leg four – reeled off six consecutive legs to seize control and establish an emphatic 8-3 cushion.

Van Gerwen responded with 105 and 86 checkouts to reduce the arrears, only for Humphries to hit back with a magnificent 125 combination on tops to ally any fears of a late fightback.

In the evening’s opening semi-final, Littler stormed through to Thursday’s showpiece after overcoming Michael Smith by the same 10-5 scoreline.

Smith had won five of the pair’s seven meetings in this year’s league phase, but the teenage superstar made amends in some style, firing in a ton-topping average to progress.

Littler made an electrifying start to the contest, following up a 144 checkout with back-to-back 12-darters to race into a 4-1 lead, and he maintained that buffer throughout.

Smith began to falter on the outer ring midway through the contest, as Littler followed up a clinical 107 kill in leg 12 with an 11-dart hold on his way to victory.

Littler - who now sets his sights on US Darts Masters glory in New York next week – pockets £315,000 in total from this year’s Premier League, with four nightly wins earning him a £40,000 bonus in addition to the £275,000 top prize.

Humphries, meanwhile, claimed £125,000 as runner-up, and also walks away with a further £40,000 in bonus prize money, having featured in seven finals across the 17 nights.

Play-Offs Night Results

Semi-Finals

• Luke Littler (100.3) 10-5 Michael Smith (95.17)
• Luke Humphries (101.71) 10-5 Michael van Gerwen (97.18)

Final

• Luke Littler (105.6) 11-7 Luke Humphries (102.47)

Premier League Darts 2024: Averages, 180s and checkout statistics

TOURNAMENT AVERAGE After week 16

• Luke Humphries: 100.46
• Luke Littler: 99.20
• Gerwyn Price: 98.41
• Michael van Gerwen: 98.10
• Rob Cross: 97.38
• Michael Smith: 96.45
• Nathan Aspinall: 95.73
• Peter Wright: 93.02

MOST 180s & 180s PER LEG After week 16

• Luke Littler: 114 (336 legs, 0.34 per leg)
• Luke Humphries: 107 (298 legs, 0.36)
• Michael Smith: 93 (298 legs, 0.31)
• Michael van Gerwen: 79 (280 legs, 0.28)
• Nathan Aspinall: 74 (282 legs, 0.26)
• Gerwyn Price: 65 (217 legs, 0.30)
• Rob Cross: 55 (245 legs, 0.22)
• Peter Wright: 43 (165 legs, 0.26)

DOUBLES AND CHECKOUT PERCENTAGE After week 16

• Michael van Gerwen: 41.50% (144/347)
• Luke Humphries: 41.42% (169/408)
• Rob Cross: 41.07% (115/280)
• Gerwyn Price: 40.60% (95/234)
• Michael Smith: 39.26% (148/377)
• Luke Littler: 39.10% (183/468)
• Nathan Aspinall: 36.29% (143/394)
• Peter Wright: 35.47% (61/172)

100+ CHECKOUTS, HIGHEST CHECKOUTS & % LEGS WON WITH 100+ CHECKOUT After week 16

• Michael Smith: 21 (14.18% legs won with 100+ checkout)
  100+ Checkouts: 170x2, 156, 146x2, 140, 138, 136x2, 132, 125, 122x2, 120x4, 117, 113, 107x2
• Luke Littler: 20 (10.92% )
  100+ Checkouts: 170, 164, 146, 144, 140, 138, 136x2, 131, 130, 125, 124, 120, 111, 110, 108, 107, 105, 103, 100
• Luke Humphries: 18 (10.65%)
  100+ Checkouts: 170, 167, 148, 143, 142, 132, 130x2, 124, 121x2, 120, 117, 116, 108, 106, 105, 104
• Nathan Aspinall: 16 (11.18%)
  100+ Checkouts: 170, 160x2, 144, 127, 122, 121x2, 120, 114, 110, 108, 106, 104, 100x2
• Michael van Gerwen: 14 (9.72%)
  100+ Checkouts: 152, 150, 149, 144, 136, 132, 127, 125x2, 120, 110, 108, 107, 100
• Rob Cross: 14 (12.17%)
  100+ Checkouts: 144x2, 132, 129, 121x2, 117, 116x2, 110, 109, 104, 102, 100
• Gerwyn Price: 13 (13.68%)
  100+ Checkouts: 170, 160, 141, 124, 120x2, 117x2, 115x2, 103, 101, 100
• Peter Wright: 3 (4.91%)
  100+ Checkouts: 156, 130, 111

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