Luke Littler is gearing up to face Michael Smith in the upcoming Premier League play-offs, setting the stage for an intense clash at the O2 Arena. While Smith is thrilled to have clinched the final play-off spot after a win over Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals, he did not shy away from voicing his dissatisfaction with the scheduling of fixtures during the final night of the regular season in Sheffield. Joining Littler and Smith in the play-offs will be Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen, promising a high-stakes showdown among the four darting heavyweights.
Smith, affectionately known as “Bully Boy,” secured his place in the play-offs in dramatic fashion. His triumph over Aspinall in the quarter-finals eliminated the latter’s chances of making the final four, capping a hard-fought journey for the reigning World Champion. Smith’s impressive momentum continued as he went on to defeat Littler in the semi-finals before dominating Luke Humphries 6-3 in the final, capturing his second nightly win of the Premier League campaign. Despite these successes, Smith’s frustration with the event’s scheduling in Sheffield was evident.
Speaking candidly with Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle following his victory, Smith expressed his belief that the evening’s matches were not optimally arranged. “I think the fixtures were the wrong way around,” Smith stated. “I think Littler should’ve been on third and I should have been on last, because if Littler won he won the league, if I won I finished third. Having our matches first and second, it kind of felt like the night was over.” Smith revealed that his focus wavered after securing victory, leaving him eager to return home and prepare for the upcoming play-offs. “I looked at you in the booth after I won and I was just like: ‘I’m gone here, I just want to get home, see my kids and get ready for next week,'” he said, adding that he was caught off-guard by having to return for the semi-finals despite mentally shifting focus to the week ahead.
Smith’s semi-final win over Littler could serve as a confidence boost ahead of their rematch in the play-offs. However, Smith was quick to downplay any potential psychological advantage. “It won’t put doubts in his mind because he’ll think the same way I do,” he noted. “It’s next week that matters. What is it, first to 10? Luke won’t be thinking about losing there.” Smith knows that every dart and every leg counts at the O2 Arena, and while his Sheffield win over Littler was important, he is fully aware that the stakes are much higher now.
The evening also saw Smith displaying raw emotion after his victory over Aspinall, who was fighting tooth and nail to secure his own spot in the play-offs. Smith’s joy at triumphing in such a high-pressure scenario was tempered by empathy for his opponent. “I am crying more than I did when I won the Worlds,” Smith admitted. “Playing Nathan there, he was outscoring me. I wasn’t playing well at all and then I hit that 136 and then the 132 and I just knew that would have hurt him.” Smith described the internal battle to maintain composure and avoid an overt celebration out of respect for Aspinall. “I wanted to do cartwheels, backflips, everything but because it was Nathan I had to keep it calm and collected and apologise to him. I do feel sorry for him because I want him there as well as me, so that was really hard.”
Smith’s journey to the play-offs has been marked by moments of brilliance and resilience, qualities he will need to call upon again as he prepares for a high-stakes showdown with Littler. At just 17 years old, Littler has proven himself as a formidable competitor, topping the Premier League table with a victory over Peter Wright before falling to Smith in the Sheffield semi-finals. Littler’s rapid rise in the sport and his poise under pressure have made him one of the most exciting young players in darts, and his clash with Smith promises to be a captivating contest.
With Smith, Littler, Humphries, and van Gerwen all vying for the title, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to the Premier League season. For Smith, overcoming Littler at the O2 Arena will require not only skill and focus but also a strategic mindset capable of adapting to the unique challenges of the play-offs. As the anticipation builds, fans and analysts alike are eager to see whether Smith can build on his recent successes or if Littler will deliver a statement-making performance on one of the sport’s grandest stages.
While Smith’s criticisms of the fixture schedule may resonate with some, there is no denying that the Premier League play-offs offer a chance for redemption, glory, and the chance to etch one’s name in the history books. All eyes will be on Smith as he battles Littler, knowing that past victories are just the beginning and that the true test lies ahead. Whether Smith can channel his frustration into a winning performance remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: he is determined to give it his all on the path to potential Premier League glory.