In a dazzling display of dart-throwing prowess, Luke Littler, the 18-year-old sensation known as “The Nuke,” has once again rewritten the record books in the 2025 Premier League Darts season. On the final night of league action in Sheffield, Littler delivered a masterclass, obliterating Stephen Bunting with a 6-1 victory to claim a historic sixth nightly win and cement his place as the sport’s brightest star. This triumph not only extended his lead at the top of the Premier League standings but also saw him shatter his own points record, finishing with an unprecedented 45 points—a feat that underscores his dominance and sets the stage for a thrilling showdown at the O2 Arena on May 29.
Littler entered the Sheffield showdown already guaranteed a play-off spot, sitting atop the table with a commanding lead. Needing just a quarter-final win to surpass his own record of 40 points from his debut season in 2024, the teenage prodigy left nothing to chance. Against Bunting, he was virtually untouchable, averaging a staggering 114.37 and hitting all six of his double attempts, including a jaw-dropping 127 checkout to seal the match. “Once I got over the finish line against Stephen, I was confident,” Littler reflected, his words brimming with the quiet assurance of a player who knows he’s rewriting history. His performance was a statement of intent, as he dispatched Bunting with ruthless efficiency, leaving the Liverpudlian rooted to the bottom of the table.
The path to the final was no less commanding. Littler powered through Nathan Aspinall in the semi-finals, setting up a blockbuster clash with rival Luke Humphries. The final saw Littler at his scintillating best, breaking Humphries early and maintaining relentless pressure. A highlight came when he reeled in a 170 checkout—the “big fish”—with clinical precision, moving within a leg of victory. “I promised I’d put on a show,” Littler said, and he delivered, closing out the match on double 6 to claim his sixth nightly win, a record no player had achieved in a single Premier League season since the format’s inception. His scoring power, evidenced by three ton-plus checkouts against Bunting and a season tally of maximum 180s that dwarfs his competitors, has been described as “simply undeniable.”
Littler’s journey to this historic night has been marked by milestones. Earlier in the season, he became the first player to secure five nightly wins, a record set in Birmingham with a 6-4 victory over Michael van Gerwen. That win, coupled with triumphs in Glasgow, Brighton, Cardiff, Newcastle, and now Sheffield, has seen him amass 45 points, nine clear of second-placed Humphries. “I’m very happy,” Littler told reporters after his Sheffield triumph. “The fifth win was going to come at some point, but it’s been a few weeks since I won my first game on a Thursday. I’m very confident I’ll stay at number one.” His focus on securing the top spot ensures a favorable semi-final slot at the O2, where the quick turnaround between matches makes positioning critical. “The first semi-final is so crucial because there’s not that big of a turnaround,” he noted.
Despite his dominance, Littler remains acutely aware of the target on his back. “I think there’s been a target on my back since the start of last year,” he admitted, acknowledging the fierce competition from players like Humphries, van Gerwen, and Gerwyn Price, who trail him in the standings. His rivalry with Price, in particular, has been a compelling subplot, with the Welshman holding a 6-0 record against Littler in the 2025 Premier League. Yet, Littler’s ability to thrive under pressure—evidenced by his 102.37 average against van Gerwen in Birmingham and a televised nine-darter in Cardiff—suggests he’s ready to challenge that streak in the play-offs.
Littler’s meteoric rise has transformed darts, with his youth and charisma sparking “Littlermania” across the sport. The reigning world champion, who claimed the 2025 PDC World Championship at just 17, has also secured the UK Open and multiple European Tour titles this year. His Sheffield performance, where he outscored opponents with ease and set a new benchmark for points in a Premier League season, has bookmakers tipping him to retain his title at the O2. “I want to finish top again, go back-to-back,” Littler declared, his sights set on joining darts legends like Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen as a multiple-time Premier League champion.
As the darts world turns its attention to the play-offs, Littler’s record-breaking campaign has set an impossibly high bar. His blend of raw talent, mental resilience, and flair for the dramatic—evidenced by checkouts like the 120 and 170 that have become his trademark—makes him the man to beat. With Humphries, van Gerwen, and Price vying for the final play-off spots, the O2 Arena promises a fitting stage for Littler to cap a season that has already etched his name into darts history.
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