Luke Littler not on level of priorly perfect Michael van Gerwen despite Premier League Darts record breaker
**Luke Littler’s Record-Breaking Premier League Run**
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts sensation, has taken the 2025 Premier League by storm, breaking records with his scintillating performances. His 6-3 quarter-final win over Luke Humphries in Aberdeen on May 15, 2025, with a 115.96 average, secured his place in the play-offs and cemented his status as the youngest player to top the Premier League table. Littler’s season stats are staggering: 10 nightly wins, the most 180s (74), and a record-breaking 116.82 average in a 6-1 rout of Gerwyn Price in Belfast. His cheeky 170 checkout stunt against Humphries—hitting two treble 20s and the bullseye to leave 34 despite not being on a finish—drew gasps and Wayne Mardle’s puzzled “Why do that?” Yet, despite these feats, analysts and former players, including Michael van Gerwen, argue Littler has not yet reached the peak consistency and dominance of Van Gerwen’s prime.
**Why Littler Falls Short of Prime Van Gerwen**
Michael van Gerwen, a seven-time Premier League champion (2013, 2016–19, 2022–23), dominated darts with unparalleled consistency during his 2014–17 peak. His 2016 season saw a 112.49 average across 16 matches, 11 nightly wins, and a record 80-match winning streak across tournaments. Van Gerwen’s mental fortitude and ability to win under pressure—evidenced by five consecutive Premier League titles—set a benchmark Littler hasn’t matched. Sky Sports’ Michael Bridge noted, “Littler’s averages are insane, but MvG was relentless week in, week out, winning everything.” Littler’s 2025 Premier League campaign, while historic, includes losses (e.g., 6-5 to Michael Smith in Exeter) and occasional dips, like a 98.12 average in a 6-4 Dublin defeat to Nathan Aspinall. Van Gerwen’s prime saw fewer such fluctuations.
Van Gerwen himself, speaking post-Aberdeen on X, acknowledged Littler’s talent but emphasized experience: “Luke’s breaking records, but I was winning majors at his age. He’s not there yet.” Littler’s major tally—2023 World Championship runner-up, 2024 Bahrain Masters, and 2025 Players Championship wins—pales against Van Gerwen’s 40+ titles by age 28. Littler’s youth also means he lacks Van Gerwen’s battle-hardened resilience in multi-tournament marathons, as seen in MvG’s 2016 treble (World Championship, Premier League, World Matchplay).
**Littler’s Potential and Current Edge**
Littler’s raw talent—highlighted by a 7.3 points-per-visit average (highest in 2025) and 41% checkout rate—rivals Van Gerwen’s prime. His mental toughness, shown in clutch 180s and that Humphries taunt, echoes MvG’s swagger. Fans on X call Littler “the future,” with one noting, “He’s 18 and already bullying world champs.” Yet, his inexperience in major finals and reliance on high-scoring bursts rather than Van Gerwen’s sustained precision mark the gap. Littler’s play-off debut at the O2 Arena on May 22, 2025, against Humphries, Price, or Aspinall, will test his ability to close the distance to Van Gerwen’s legendary standard.
