Luke Littler silences Liverpool with Premier League Darts Night 12 triumph

Luke Littler defied the boo boys in Liverpool to pick up his fourth Premier League Darts weekly title of the season on Thursday.

Littler overcame Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton to prevail at the M&S Bank Arena and cut Clayton’s lead at the top of the table to just three points.

The Welshman defeated Littler in last week’s Rotterdam final, but the world number one avenged that result with a mesmerising performance on Merseyside.

“It was a good night. I’m very happy with myself,” reflected Littler, who is eyeing top spot for a third consecutive campaign.

“Usually the doubling isn’t that good, but I’m very thankful it was there tonight. I hit a lot of crucial doubles at crucial times throughout the night.

“I was definitely focused. I wanted to win tonight and that’s what I’ve done.

“I’m very close to Jonny now, three points off. I’m going to go chasing, I want to finish top once again.”

Littler opened proceedings with a 6-2 win over rival Humphries, punishing more doubling woes from reigning champion to seal a semi-final clash against Van Gerwen.

The three-time World Champion averaged north of 107, landed nine 180s and pinned 71 per cent of his attempts at doubles but still succumbed to a relentless Littler – who fought back from 3-1 down to prevail.

The Warrington sensation then capped off a terrific night’s work with a 6-1 thumping of Clayton to take the title, averaging 104.5 in the process.

Littler also crashed in six 180s and pinned 60 per cent of his attempts at doubles, racing into a five-leg lead before halting Clayton’s brief resistance with a superb 11-darter to seal the £10,000 nightly bonus.

Despite missing out on a fifth nightly title, Clayton recorded deciding-leg victories over Stephen Bunting and Gian van Veen in advancing to a third successive final.

The Welshman denied home favourite Bunting in a contest featuring 11 consecutive holds of throw, before overturning a 3-1 deficit to topple a spirited Van Veen.

The 2021 champion converted 121, 101 and 156 checkouts to complete the comeback, while also averaging 102.4 to cement top spot.

Van Veen accounted for Clayton’s World Cup partner Gerwyn Price earlier in the evening, running out a 6-4 winner to move up to fifth and bolster his hopes of qualifying for Finals Night.

Van Gerwen remains four points clear of his countryman in fourth spot, despite losing out to Littler in an extraordinary semi-final.

The seven-time Premier League champion kicked off Night 12 with a 6-3 success against Josh Rock, ending the Northern Irishman’s bid for a fifth consecutive quarter-final victory.

Premier League Darts 2026 Night 12 Results

Thursday April 23

Quarter-Finals
Gian van Veen 6-4 Gerwyn Price
Stephen Bunting 5-6 Jonny Clayton
Josh Rock 3-6 Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries 2-6 Luke Littler

Semi-Finals
Gian van Veen 5-6 Jonny Clayton
Michael van Gerwen 5-6 Luke Littler

Final
Luke Littler 6-1 Jonny Clayton