Under the bright lights of Cardiff’s Utilita Arena, the darts world turned its gaze to Luke Littler, the 18-year-old phenom whose meteoric rise continues to captivate fans and rattle opponents. On Thursday, March 20, 2025, the teenage sensation delivered a masterclass at Night Seven of the Premier League, culminating in a 6-4 victory over Michael van Gerwen in a final that will be remembered for its breathtaking highs. With a jaw-dropping nine-darter and a staggering 112.5 average, Littler not only claimed his third nightly win of the season but stretched his lead at the top of the table to six points. Yet, beneath the triumph lingered a flicker of unfulfilled desire—he’d hoped to face and conquer Gerwyn Price, the Welshman known as “The Iceman,” on his home turf.
The evening began with Littler navigating a hostile welcome from the Cardiff crowd, some of whom greeted him with boos as he took on Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals. Undaunted, he silenced the doubters with a 6-3 win, his six 180s and 102-plus average a prelude to the fireworks ahead. In the semi-finals, he faced Rob Cross, a former world champion who’d already notched a nine-darter this season. Littler turned up the heat, cruising to a 6-2 victory with a near-108 average and a dazzling 120 ‘Shanghai’ checkout that sent the arena into a frenzy. By the time he reached the final, the crowd’s tune had shifted—boos morphed into cheers, a testament to his ability to win over even the most skeptical. “We get booed as players,” he later said with a sly grin, “but once you hit a 180 or a nice finish… I think they’re on my side now.”
The final pitted Littler against van Gerwen, a seven-time Premier League champ riding a wave of resurgence after victories over Luke Humphries and Chris Dobey. What unfolded was a rollercoaster of skill and nerve, a match defined by seven breaks of throw and a moment of pure magic in the fourth leg. Littler fired two consecutive 180s, then lined up treble 20, treble 17, and a heart-stopping double 15. For a split second, he froze, unsure if the dart had landed. “I had no idea,” he admitted, his voice tinged with boyish excitement. “I just had to wait for Huw to call it—‘Is it? Is it? Yeah!’” When referee Huw Ware’s confirmation rang out, the crowd erupted, and Littler unleashed a celebration worthy of the history books—his second nine-darter of 2025, inching him closer to breaking the record of four in a calendar year, a mark he shares with van Gerwen.
But amidst the glory, Littler’s thoughts drifted to a missed opportunity. “I wanted Gerwyn Price to win and try and beat him on home soil,” he confessed with a laugh, revealing a competitive streak that thrives on personal challenges. Price, the local hero, had fallen 6-5 to Cross in the quarter-finals, denying Littler the chance to face off against the former world champion in front of a partisan Welsh crowd. The two share a mutual respect—Price had bested Littler the previous week in Nottingham and praised his potential, saying, “He’s the best player in the world and he’s going to be for some years.” Littler, in turn, acknowledged Price’s kind words, adding fuel to his desire for a Cardiff showdown that never came.
Littler’s path to this moment is a tale of prodigious talent and unshakable confidence. The reigning world champion, who turned 18 in January, has already ticked off major titles—the Premier League, Grand Slam, and World Series Finals in 2024, plus the UK Open earlier this year. His Cardiff triumph was all the more remarkable given his preparation: “I’ve not picked my darts up since last Thursday,” he revealed, admitting he’d spent the week off to “chill.” That a player can step away, return, and produce a 112.5 average against a resurgent van Gerwen—who averaged 101.41 himself—speaks to a talent that borders on the supernatural. “It’s taken me a few months to hit one of them, and now I’ve got my second,” he said of his nine-darters, hinting at a 2025 goal to eclipse the record. “You know when it’s almost coming.”
As the dust settled, Littler’s dominance was undeniable—10 maximums, 43% on doubles, and a win that solidified his status as the man to beat. Van Gerwen, gracious in defeat, nearly mounted a comeback, but Littler’s precision proved too much. Next week, the Premier League caravan rolls to Newcastle, where Littler faces Stephen Bunting, another chance to extend his lead with nine nights remaining before the O2 Arena play-offs. For now, Cardiff stands as a testament to his brilliance—and a near-miss that only sharpens his resolve. Price may have slipped away this time, but Littler’s hunger ensures that showdowns, on home soil or otherwise, are only a matter of time.
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