The AO Arena in Manchester erupted into a cacophony of cheers and gasps on a pulsating Thursday night, as Gerwyn Price unleashed a jaw-dropping nine-darter against Luke Littler in the Premier League Darts quarter-finals. The Welshman’s moment of perfection, a rare feat that sent the crowd into a frenzy, was the highlight of an electrifying evening—yet it was the 18-year-old prodigy Littler who stole the show, snapping a six-match losing streak against Price with a commanding 6-3 victory. For Littler, the world champion, this win was more than a step toward a record fifth nightly Premier League title—it was a statement of resilience against one of his toughest rivals.
The atmosphere was electric from the moment the two stepped onto the oche. Price, the 2021 world champion known as “The Iceman,” had dominated Littler in their recent encounters, winning every head-to-head since February. But Littler, the teenage sensation whose meteoric rise has captivated darts fans worldwide, was undaunted. Early in the match, he surged to a 5-1 lead, his trademark high scoring—averaging an impressive 103—leaving Price scrambling. Then came the seventh leg, when Price, trailing and under pressure, delivered magic. With two 180s followed by treble 20, treble 18, and a pinpoint double 12, he nailed the fourth nine-darter of the 2025 Premier League season. “I’ve never been so happy to lose,” Price later grinned, reflecting on the moment he turned to the roaring crowd and shared a warm embrace with Littler, who celebrated his rival’s feat with genuine admiration.
The nine-darter, a perfect leg requiring just nine darts to hit 501, is darts’ equivalent of a hole-in-one, and the Manchester faithful knew they’d witnessed history. “It was a brilliant moment to hit the nine in front of a great crowd,” Price said, his signature bellow echoing through the arena. For Littler, the pressure could have been overwhelming—facing not just a resurgent Price but the weight of a crowd buzzing with energy. Yet, he stayed composed, his focus unshaken. “To hit a nine-darter on the big stage is always special,” Littler had said of his own perfect leg earlier in the season, and he seemed to channel that same cool-headedness to weather Price’s storm.
Despite the Welshman’s heroics, Littler’s precision on the doubles—landing 54.5% of his attempts compared to Price’s less clinical finishing—proved decisive. Price, who matched Littler’s scoring prowess with a 103 average, couldn’t capitalize after his nine-darter, missing key doubles that let Littler maintain control. “I try to be more positive, and it shows on the board,” Price had said after a previous win, but this time, his positivity wasn’t enough to overcome Littler’s relentless accuracy. The teenager sealed the match with a double 20, ending a barren run against Price that had haunted him for months.
This victory was a homecoming of sorts for Littler, who hails from nearby Warrington. The Manchester crowd, already wild from Price’s nine-darter, roared even louder as their young hero clinched the win. “I’m just glad to win,” Littler said, his smile betraying a mix of relief and pride. His journey to this moment has been nothing short of remarkable—crowned world champion in January at just 17, he’s already amassed 10 PDC titles, including a Premier League crown sealed with a nine-darter of his own in 2024. Yet, facing Price, who’d called him “the best player in the world at the minute,” had been a mental hurdle. “I wanted to get another win over Luke just to keep on top of him,” Price admitted, acknowledging the teenager’s potential to surpass even Phil Taylor’s record of 16 world titles.
For Littler, the win wasn’t just personal—it kept him atop the Premier League table, his sights set on the O2 Arena finals. But the night belonged to both players, their sportsmanship and skill reminding everyone why darts is thriving. As Littler put it, “When you hit 180s and a nine-darter, the crowd’s with you.” In Manchester, they were with both stars, celebrating a match that will linger in darts lore.
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