Luke Littler lands third Premier League Darts weekly title in Liverpool

Luke Littler claimed his third weekly title in the 2024 Premier League courtesy of a 6-2 win over Rob Cross in the final of Night 13 in Liverpool.

Littler, who also triumphed in Belfast and Manchester on Nights Nine and Ten – returned to the top of the league table after claiming another five-point haul at the M&S Bank Arena.

The 17-year-old sensation overcame Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall and Cross to scoop the £10,000 bonus in Merseyside, which sees him establish a five-point lead over his closest rival Luke Humphries.

Littler began Thursday’s action with a 6-3 victory over Price, producing a ton-plus average to end the Welshman’s hopes of reaching the play-offs.

The Nuke then fought back from 5-2 down and survived five match darts from Aspinall to snatch a dramatic deciding-leg victory in the semi-finals.

This set up a showdown against 2018 World Champion Cross in the final, and Littler made an emphatic start, converting 111 and 86 checkouts.

The World Youth Champion extended his lead to 5-0 to threaten the first whitewash win of this year’s competition, before fending off a late rally from Cross to prevail with a 105 average.

“I’m just happy with the way I played,” reflected Littler. “I wanted to come here, pick up some more points, and hopefully I’m in the Play-Offs now.

“I knew what to expect, but I always like to engage with the crowd, and I was just playing with complete freedom up there.

“I’m really happy to pull away from the chasing pack. There’s only three more league nights left now, so maybe I could top the table. That would be amazing.”

Cross had ended his seven-match losing run with victory over Smith in the quarter-finals, averaging 102 and converting 66 per cent of his attempts at doubles.

The 33-year-old later ran out a convincing 6-2 winner against a wasteful Michael van Gerwen to advance to a second weekly final of the season, punishing a staggering 16 missed darts at double from the Dutchman.

Van Gerwen had reeled off five consecutive legs from 3-1 down to deny Peter Wright in the last eight, which mathematically ended the Scot’s hopes of a top-four finish.

Meanwhile, Aspinall boosted his top-four credentials with a commanding quarter-final win against Humphries, averaging 102 and pinning six of his eight attempts at double to close out a 6-2 victory.

Premier League Darts 2024 Night 13 Results

Thursday April 25

Quarter-Finals
Luke Littler 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Luke Humphries 2-6 Nathan Aspinall
Peter Wright 3-6 Michael van Gerwen
Michael Smith 4-6 Rob Cross

Semi-Finals
Luke Littler 6-5 Nathan Aspinall
Michael van Gerwen 2-6 Rob Cross

Final
Luke Littler 6-2 Rob Cross