Luke Littler’s emphatic Premier League Darts victory in Cardiff could provide the catalyst the world No 1 has been searching for.
The back‑to‑back world champion claimed his first nightly win at the fifth time of asking, defeating local favourite Jonny Clayton 6-4 in an epic final.
Littler’s night began with a below‑par 6-4 victory over Josh Rock, but by the end of the evening he had rekindled the magic darts synonymous with his meteoric rise.
He hit three ton‑plus finishes to defeat Gerwyn Price in the semi‑finals, including a match‑clinching ‘Big Fish’ 170 checkout, and reeled in another ‘Big Fish’ while also missing a nine‑darter on the final dart in his win over Clayton.
Sky Sports Darts’ Wayne Mardle warned that Littler’s return to form could be ominous for his Premier League rivals.
“I’m seeing it that way. I really am, because I believe people change with a win,” Mardle said. “Luke will kick on – maybe next week, maybe the week after. He might win them all.
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Highlights of the final between Luke Littler and Jonny Clayton on Night 5 of the Premier League in Cardiff.
“It looked like Littler was back. In the first game against Josh Rock it didn’t – he won, and it was a decent performance. It’s all relative: it was still world class, but it wasn’t Luke Littler world class. Then he found it. He was definitely throwing harder in the second and third games.
“When someone is an absolute champion every single day and they’re not winning, there are always going to be questions, but the expectation doesn’t seem to bother him. He doesn’t get flustered. He doesn’t worry about nonsense. All champions have their own traits, and he’s just a cool customer.
“It’s a weird one because we’re still looking at him as the main man, and he’s still learning. It’s a stage of his career where going four weeks without winning raises questions. Well, it didn’t turn into anything. Away from here he’s been winning anyway, so it’s not a problem.”
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Luke Littler misses double 15 to hit a nine-darter against Jonny Clayton on night 5 of the Premier League in Cardiff.
Humphries, Rock waiting for PL spark
While Littler ensured normal service resumed in Cardiff, a number of his Premier League rivals remain waiting for their campaigns to ignite.
Defending champion Luke Humphries failed to capitalise on a one‑sided 6-1 quarter‑final victory over Michael van Gerwen, as he was dumped out by Gerwyn Price in the semi‑finals.
Night 4 winner Stephen Bunting exited in the quarter‑finals, while pointless and winless Josh Rock’s wait for a Premier League victory extends to at least Night 6.
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Luke Littler returned to winning ways in the Premier League and vowed to claim consecutive UK Open titles for the first time in ten years.
“I believe Steven Bunting won’t go another three, four, five weeks without winning games,” Mardle added. “He looked better tonight, even though he didn’t win.
“I still think there are others wondering, ‘when’s it going to be my turn?’ And Luke Humphries has to be one of them. So now we’re waiting for him to go bang.
“All we can do is build a little narrative about who needs to do what and when. Josh Rock and Luke Humphries need to put things right. They’re the ones who haven’t really been rewarded for some amazing darts. Humphries is just not winning enough games.”
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Wayne Mardle says Luke Littler showed his great temperament in Cardiff while Luke Humphries is not getting rewarded for throwing some amazing darts.
Mardle added: “When Josh Rock gets something right, something else goes wrong. Tonight was the first time he’s scored like that. Unfortunately, he couldn’t marry the finishing and scoring together.
“He will – it’s just a matter of how long it takes. What you don’t want is to be beaten before that happens.
“Looking back at Stephen Bunting losing the first eight weeks, you don’t want it to reach that point, because you start to feel like you’re out of it. You feel like, ‘I’m hitting the ground now and it’s too late’.
“You want to make the playoffs because that’s the only important thing. Yes, it’s about winning the league for Luke Littler, Humphries, and whoever’s top, but ultimately it’s about qualifying for the playoffs. That’s the objective.”
What’s happening on Night Six?
The Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham hosts next week’s action.
Josh Rock has another opportunity to claim his first victory against Stephen Bunting in the opening match.
Jonny Clayton takes on Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries plays Gian van Veen before Luke Littler begins his campaign against Gerwyn Price in a repeat of their Cardiff semi-final.
Who will win this year’s Premier League Darts? Watch Night Six live on Thursday March 12 from 7pm on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports+. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
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