In a dazzling display of skill and composure, 18-year-old darts prodigy Luke Littler etched his name deeper into the annals of Premier League Darts history, clinching a record-breaking fifth nightly win of the 2025 season in Birmingham. The Warrington wonderkid, already the youngest world darts champion, defeated Michael van Gerwen 6-4 in a thrilling final at the Utilita Arena, becoming the first player to secure five nightly victories in a single Premier League campaign. Littler’s triumph on May 1, 2025, also saw him shatter his own record for the most 180s in a single night, firing 11 maximums across his three matches to cement his dominance and secure his spot in the season-ending play-offs at London’s O2 Arena on May 29.
Littler’s path to history was a rollercoaster of high-stakes battles. In the quarter-finals, he faced Stephen Bunting, a seasoned competitor desperate for his first win of the season. Littler, trailing 4-2, staged a comeback, edging out a 6-5 victory in a last-leg decider with a clinical double 5 finish. The semi-final against Nathan Aspinall was equally tense, with Littler surviving a match dart to claim another 6-5 win, bolstered by a stunning 120 checkout. By the time he reached the final, Littler was in top form, averaging 102.37 against van Gerwen’s 94.31 and landing six of 13 checkouts. “I’m very happy. The fifth nightly win was going to come at some point, but it’s been a few weeks since I actually won on a Thursday,” Littler said, reflecting on his victory. “I’m nine points clear, so I’m very happy and very confident I’ll stay at number one.”
The final against van Gerwen, a seven-time Premier League champion, was a clash of titans. Van Gerwen surged to a 3-1 lead with a 76 checkout, capitalizing on Littler’s early miss at double 16 for a 132 finish. But Littler, unfazed, leveled the score at 3-3 with a 120 checkout and seized the lead with a 12-dart leg, finishing on double 13. The decisive moment came in leg 10, when Littler, after missing a match dart, pinned double 20 to seal the win, avoiding a final-leg decider. “Once I got over the finish line against Stephen, I was confident,” Littler noted. “It was a cracking game against Michael, and that win puts me nine points ahead of Luke [Humphries].”
Littler’s record-breaking night was not just about the victory. His 11 180s surpassed his own previous Premier League record of 10, set earlier in the season against Bunting in Belfast. This feat underscored his scoring power, which has been a hallmark of his meteoric rise. With 35 points in the league standings, Littler is now within striking distance of breaking the record for the most points in a season, a testament to his consistency across the grueling 16-week campaign. His earlier nightly wins in Belfast, Brighton, Cardiff, and Newcastle had already tied the record of four, shared by legends like Jonny Clayton (2022), Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith (2023), and Littler himself in 2024. “It’s getting down to the nitty-gritty in the race for the play-offs, but I’m still looking at trying to break my points record from last year,” Littler said, eyeing further milestones.
The Birmingham victory marked a triumphant return to form for Littler, who had endured four weeks without reaching a final after dominating the first half of the season. His resilience shone through as he navigated tough draws, including deciding-leg ties against Bunting and Aspinall. Meanwhile, van Gerwen, despite the loss, bolstered his play-off hopes with wins over Rob Cross and Gerwyn Price earlier in the night, moving into contention for the top four. The Dutchman’s performance, including a 118 checkout against Price, showed flashes of his vintage form, but Littler’s precision proved too much. “It’s something I’ve always thought in my head, playing the first semi-final is so crucial because there is not that big of a turnaround,” Littler said, emphasizing his goal to top the league phase for a strategic advantage in the play-offs.
Littler’s historic night has set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 Premier League season. With three weeks remaining, the battle for the remaining play-off spots is intensifying, with Price, van Gerwen, and Aspinall vying for position. Littler, however, is focused on extending his lead and rewriting the record books. His withdrawal from the upcoming European Darts Grand Prix in Germany, citing hostile crowd receptions, allows him to conserve energy for the Premier League’s final push and the World Cup of Darts in June. As the darts world marvels at his achievements, Littler remains grounded, driven by a desire to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. “Five wins is insane—I never thought I’d break records like this so soon,” he reflected, a sentiment echoing the awe of fans and rivals alike.
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