In the glitzy, adrenaline-fueled world of Premier League Darts, where precision meets passion under the spotlight, Luke Littler has once again proven why he’s the sport’s brightest young star. On a raucous Thursday night in Cardiff, the 18-year-old prodigy, affectionately dubbed “The Nuke,” unleashed a breathtaking nine-darter—a perfect leg of darts that sent the crowd into a frenzy and secured his third nightly victory of the 2025 season. Yet, beneath the triumph and the roar of the Welsh faithful, a surprising twist emerged: Littler’s playful discontent with the £30,000 prize for his flawless feat, a set of 18-carat gold darts, has sparked chatter across the darts community.
The night began with Littler stepping onto the stage at Utilita Arena, greeted by a chorus of boos from a crowd rallying behind local hero Gerwyn Price. Undeterred, the teenager silenced his doubters with a masterclass performance. He dispatched Nathan Aspinall in the quarterfinals with a 6-3 win, averaging over 102, then steamrolled Rob Cross in the semis with a near-108 average, setting up a blockbuster final against Michael van Gerwen. The Dutch legend, a seven-time Premier League champion, had clawed his way to his first final of the year, toppling world No. 1 Luke Humphries and Chris Dobey with flashes of his vintage brilliance. But it was Littler who stole the show.
The final was a chaotic, break-heavy affair, with seven throws swapped between the two titans. Then came the moment of magic: in the fourth leg, Littler fired two consecutive 180s, the maximum score, before calmly lining up a 141 checkout. With the crowd holding its breath, he opted for an unorthodox route—treble 20, treble 17, double 15—and nailed it with surgical precision. For a split second, he hesitated, unsure if the final dart had landed true, his face a mask of anticipation. When the referee confirmed the nine-darter, Littler erupted, leaping in celebration as Van Gerwen cracked a wry smile. “I had no idea if the last dart was in,” he later admitted, grinning. “You can see my face—‘Is it in?’ Yeah!” The victory was sealed 6-4, with Littler averaging a staggering 112.5 to Van Gerwen’s 101.41, cementing his lead atop the Premier League table.
But amid the jubilation, Littler’s cheeky post-match comments stole headlines. For his nine-darter—the third in this year’s Premier League after Humphries and Cross hit theirs in Brighton—Littler earned a bespoke set of gold darts valued at £30,000, a prize offered by the tournament’s sponsors to any player achieving perfection. Yet, the teenager, who has racked up over £1 million in career earnings since bursting onto the scene, couldn’t resist a playful jab. “I’ve been playing very well,” he said, reflecting on his form. “I haven’t picked my darts up since last Thursday—I had a week off to chill. But to come here and win and be six points clear, I’m comfortable.” Then came the quip: “Those gold darts? I can’t even use them—they’re just going to sit there!” His lighthearted gripe hinted at a preference for cash over the lavish keepsake, sparking a mix of amusement and debate among fans and pundits alike.
Littler’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. At just 17, he claimed the PDC World Championship in January 2025, becoming the youngest ever to do so, and his dominance has continued unabated. The Cardiff triumph marked his third nightly win in seven weeks, following victories in Belfast and Brighton, and his consistency—averaging over 100 in nearly every match—has left rivals scrambling. “I just want to get to the O2 as quick as possible,” he said, eyeing the May play-offs in London. “I’ve put myself in a really good position, and this year I may as well try and stay No. 1.” With a six-point cushion over Humphries, who faltered again in the quarters, Littler’s confidence is palpable.
The night wasn’t without its subplots. Van Gerwen, desperate to reclaim his Premier League mojo, showed glimpses of the “Green Machine” of old, but couldn’t topple the teenager’s relentless scoring power. Cross, meanwhile, edged closer to a play-off spot with a dramatic 6-5 win over Price, sealed with a 170 checkout, only to fall to Littler’s onslaught. For Littler, the boos he faced early on turned to cheers by night’s end. “We get booed as players,” he shrugged. “But once you hit a 180 or a nice finish, they’re on my side now.”
As the Premier League caravan rolls on to Newcastle next week, where Littler faces a struggling Stephen Bunting, the focus remains on the young champion. His nine-darter wasn’t just a highlight—it was a statement. Yet, his tongue-in-cheek dissatisfaction with the £30,000 golden prize adds a layer of charm to his burgeoning legend. Will he chase more of those glittering darts, or keep piling up the points? One thing’s certain: in darts, Luke Littler is rewriting the rules—and having a laugh while he’s at it.
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