The darts world is buzzing as 18-year-old prodigy Luke Littler prepares to take on Gerwyn Price in a highly anticipated Premier League quarter-final clash in Manchester. The young sensation, already a household name, sits atop the leaderboard with 26 points, a testament to his blistering form in the 2025 season. Yet, looming over this Thursday night spectacle is the shadow of Price, the Welsh veteran who has become Littler’s toughest hurdle. With Price holding a commanding six-match winning streak against the teenager, Littler’s latest comments reveal a steely determination not just to end that run but to etch his name deeper into the record books by claiming a historic fifth nightly win.
Littler’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. From his breakout World Championship final appearance at 16 to his current reign as the Premier League’s pacesetter, the Warrington-born star has dazzled fans with his pinpoint accuracy and unshakable composure. His performances this year—marked by four nightly victories and a league-leading tally of 180s—have cemented his status as a generational talent. “I’m obviously looking to try and go back-to-back in Manchester,” Littler said, his voice carrying a quiet confidence. But it’s the prospect of breaking the Premier League record for nightly wins that truly fuels him. “For myself, try and get that fifth nightly win, break the record,” he added, eyes fixed on a milestone that would further distinguish him from the pack.
Price, however, is no ordinary obstacle. The 40-year-old former world champion, known as “The Iceman,” has a knack for unsettling Littler like no one else. Their rivalry, though friendly off the oche, crackles with intensity on stage. Price’s six consecutive victories over Littler, including a 6-3 thrashing in Nottingham’s Night Six final, have earned him the label of Littler’s “bogey player.” Reflecting on their dynamic, Littler downplayed any mental block. “I know he’s got the record and he knows how to beat me,” he admitted, before adding with a spark of defiance, “but hopefully I can try and get that win over him.” It’s not about revenge, he insists—just the thrill of competition. “I wouldn’t say I’m motivated to obviously beat him,” he clarified. “I’ll just go up on stage with the same mindset of winning that first game and getting two points on the board.”
The Manchester crowd, known for its raucous energy, will add another layer to this showdown. Littler thrives in such atmospheres, feeding off the cheers as he unleashes his trademark power scoring. His 140.91 average in a World Championship set earlier this year remains a high-water mark, and his 180-heavy game has kept opponents on edge. Yet Price, with his theatrical roars and fist pumps, is a master at commanding the stage. “He’s human, so he does think a little bit,” Price once mused about Littler, suggesting his larger-than-life presence might rattle the youngster. But Littler’s response is all business: focus on the darts, not the drama.
This clash comes at a critical juncture. Littler’s six-point lead over second-placed Luke Humphries gives him breathing room, but he’s hungry to widen the gap. “I just want to try and keep that six-point gap or even try and extend on it,” he said, aware that every point edges him closer to a second straight Premier League title. Price, meanwhile, fresh off a Players Championship win in Leicester, is climbing the table, his 94.1 average in Nottingham belying a clinical 55% checkout rate that proved Littler’s undoing. Their head-to-head history—seven Price wins in 11 meetings—tilts heavily in the Welshman’s favor, but Littler’s recent form suggests the tide could turn.
Beyond the rivalry, Littler’s broader ambitions loom large. Price himself has tipped him to surpass Phil Taylor’s record of 16 world titles, a bold prediction that underscores the teenager’s potential. For now, though, it’s about Manchester—about breaking Price’s streak and seizing that fifth nightly win. As Littler steps onto the oche, he carries not just his darts but the weight of expectation. Win or lose, his poise and hunger ensure one thing: the darts world is watching, and “The Nuke” is ready to explode.