In the electric haze of Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena, where the air crackled with the fervor of a packed crowd, Gerwyn Price stood victorious, his darts still warm from a night of unrelenting precision. It was March 13, 2025, Night Six of the BetMGM Premier League, and the Welshman had just toppled Luke Littler, the teenage prodigy who’s taken the darts world by storm, in a 6-3 final that pulsed with intensity. Yet, as the cheers echoed and the £10,000 prize settled into his grasp, Price’s words weren’t about his own triumph—they were a thunderous tribute to the vanquished. “He’s going to be unbeatable!” he declared, his voice a mix of awe and prophecy, painting a picture of a future where Littler reigns supreme. This wasn’t just a win for Price; it was a moment that illuminated the unstoppable rise of a young titan, a tale of rivalry, respect, and a sport on the cusp of a new era.
The night had unfolded like a high-stakes drama, each throw a plot twist in a story that’s gripped the darts faithful. Price, a former world champion known as “The Iceman,” was on a mission to reclaim his swagger after a rocky stretch. He’d stormed through the quarterfinals, dispatching Stephen Bunting with a cool-headed display despite Bunting’s dazzling 170 checkout. Then came a semifinal showdown with Michael van Gerwen, the Dutch maestro whose own legend looms large. Price turned the tables with a blistering 107 average, routing van Gerwen 6-1 in a performance that roared with intent. By the time he faced Littler in the final, the stage was set for a clash of generations—a grizzled veteran against a kid who’s rewriting the rulebook.
Littler, at just 18, is no ordinary foe. The Warrington wonderkid arrived in Nottingham atop the Premier League table, his earlier wins that night—a 6-4 upset of world No. 1 Luke Humphries and a 6-3 demolition of Rob Cross—proof of his relentless form. Against Cross, he’d conjured finishes of 167, 127, and 164, all on the bullseye, averaging 107 in a display that left jaws on the floor. In the final, he unleashed seven 180s and a 103 average, numbers that would bury most players. Yet Price, defying the onslaught, held firm. “I’m just glad to get another win,” he said afterward, his relief palpable but quickly overshadowed by his admiration for the teenager. He punished Littler’s early misses, racing to a 3-0 lead with back-to-back 14-darters, then sealed it with a 123 checkout on the bull—a flourish that underscored his mastery.
What makes this victory remarkable isn’t just Price’s skill—it’s his streak against Littler, now stretched to six wins since April 2024. It’s a hoodoo that defies logic, given Littler’s dominance elsewhere. The kid’s trophy cabinet already gleams with the 2025 World Championship, the Premier League title, and a Grand Slam, all before his 19th birthday. “Luke is the best player in the world at the minute, and he’s going to be for many years,” Price insisted, his praise as generous as it was unequivocal. He sees a future where Littler eclipses even Phil Taylor’s record of 16 world titles, a benchmark once thought untouchable. “I think he will beat Phil Taylor’s record,” he predicted, his words a bold stroke on the canvas of darts history. “He’s going to get better and better.”
Littler’s rise is a phenomenon that’s reshaped the sport. From a toddler tossing darts at a magnetic board to a global sensation, his journey mirrors the dreams of every kid with a dart in hand. “He’s done wonders for this sport, for everybody, including myself,” Price reflected, acknowledging the tidal wave of excitement Littler has unleashed. Darts was already riding a wave of popularity, but Littler’s arrival—quiet, unassuming, often glued to his phone until the oche calls—has propelled it to new heights. “He’s taken it to new levels and he deserves all the praise he gets,” Price added, a nod to the teenager’s ability to captivate fans and foes alike. At the players’ table, Price said, he and veterans like James Wade marvel at Littler daily, a ritual of respect for a talent that’s rewriting the script.
For Price, this win was more than a statistic—it was a lifeline. After back-to-back quarterfinal losses earlier in the season, he’d slipped from the top four, his confidence battered. “In the last few years I’ve been quite negative,” he confessed, a rare glimpse into the mind of a champion who’s weathered storms. But this year, armed with a renewed positivity—bolstered by sessions with a sports psychologist—he’s found his edge again. “I have tried to be more positive this year, and it is showing on the board,” he said, the Nottingham triumph lifting him to third in the standings with 12 points. Yet, even as he savors the victory, he knows the clock is ticking. “We all need to start winning now,” he warned, “because in the next couple of years, I think he’s going to be unbeatable.”
The final itself was a microcosm of their rivalry—Littler’s brilliance clashing with Price’s resolve. The teenager fought back from that 3-0 deficit, landing a 12-darter to spark hope, but Price’s clutch finishes—a 123, then a ton-plus checkout—kept him at bay. Littler’s audacious bid for three double 20s on 120 faltered, and Price pounced, taking a tops shootout to secure the 6-3 win. “I buckled a little bit, but I got over the winning line,” Price said, his humility shining through. For Littler, the loss didn’t dim his shine—he still climbed to 16 points, overtaking Humphries to lead the table, his fourth final of the season a testament to his consistency.
Next week, the Premier League caravan rolls into Cardiff, Price’s home turf, where the crowd’s roar will fuel his fire. He’ll face Cross in the quarters, while Littler takes on Nathan Aspinall—a potential semifinal rematch looming if both prevail. “Wales is going to be a lot of pressure for me,” Price admitted, knowing the eyes of a nation will be on him. But his focus isn’t just on the present—it’s on a future where Littler looms large. “There’s nobody in the PDC who will stop him,” he said, a stark warning to the old guard. “Unless there’s somebody who comes from the new generation who can stop him, I don’t think anybody can.”
This clash in Nottingham wasn’t just a match—it was a passing of the torch, a moment where respect transcended rivalry. Price, at 40, is a warrior of the oche, his six straight wins over Littler a badge of honor. Yet, in his praise, he’s not just a victor—he’s a herald, sounding the arrival of a force that could dominate for decades. “He’s fantastic,” he said, summing up a sentiment echoed across the darts world. As the lights dimmed and the crowd dispersed, one truth lingered: Luke Littler may have lost the night, but in Price’s eyes—and soon, perhaps the world’s—he’s on a path to become unbeatable, a dart-throwing titan whose story is only just beginning.
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