‘I didn’t realise’ – Luke Littler seals ‘new route’ nine-darter that even Michael van Gerwen loved
Luke Littler’s Nine-Dart Perfection Stuns Cardiff Crowd
Luke Littler lit up Premier League Darts Night 7 in Cardiff with a spectacular nine-dart finish against Michael van Gerwen, securing another dominant victory and extending his lead at the top of the standings.
The 18-year-old sensation was in unstoppable form, defeating Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross with match averages exceeding 100 before facing Van Gerwen in the final—a rematch of their World Championship showdown in January.
A Perfect Leg on a Perfect Night
Littler’s moment of magic came in the fourth leg of the final. After hitting back-to-back 180s, the Welsh crowd roared in anticipation as he stepped up for the finish. He went for an unconventional 17s route, before nailing a double 15 to complete the perfect leg.
As the dart landed, Littler leapt into the air, celebrating wildly while the crowd erupted—beer flying, fans losing their minds, and Van Gerwen even cracking a smile at the brilliance of his opponent.
“I didn’t even realise the double 15 was in until Huw (Ware, referee) shouted it,” Littler admitted afterward. “So I think that’s the new route to go for this year.”
This marked Littler’s second nine-darter of 2025, having previously achieved the feat at Players Championship 5 against Adam Hunt.
Littler Seals Third Premier League Nightly Win
Despite Van Gerwen responding strongly by winning the next two legs, Littler regained control and closed out a 6-4 victory with a stunning 112 average. His third Premier League nightly win puts him six points clear of Luke Humphries in the overall standings.
“It’s great to pick up another win, more crucial points, and to have a cushion over Luke is a huge boost,” Littler said.
Littler’s Prophetic Prediction
Incredibly, Littler seemed to have predicted his nine-darter earlier in the day. At 3 PM on Instagram, he joked about his previous nine-darter in Leicester, saying:
“Nine-darter in Leicester was 60-51-30… take a hint.”
Just hours later, he delivered exactly that, proving once again why he’s the hottest name in darts.
“I had no idea it had gone in at first,” he laughed. “I just waited for Huw to call it. ‘Is it? Is it?’ And then I knew.”
Looking Ahead to Newcastle
With six points in hand and play-off qualification within reach, Littler remains focused:
“There’s plenty more to come. I’ve not picked up my darts since last Thursday—I had a full week off. I’m comfortable, but I need to keep going.”
Van Gerwen, despite an improved performance, fell short with a 101.41 average. He and the rest of the Premier League stars will have another shot at closing the gap when Night 8 takes place in Newcastle next Thursday.
With Littler in scintillating form, the rest of the field has serious work to do if they want to stop him.
