**Gerwyn Price Hails Luke Littler’s Impact but Faces Teen’s Cheeky Taunt Ahead of Premier League Darts Play-Off Clash**
As the darts world turns its eyes to the O2 Arena for the 2025 Premier League Darts Play-Offs on May 29, 2025, Gerwyn Price and Luke Littler are set to ignite their rivalry in a blockbuster semi-final. Price, the battle-hardened Welshman, has showered praise on the 18-year-old prodigy, crediting him with transforming darts’ global appeal. However, Littler fired back with a playful jab, calling Price’s recent stumble a “mistake” that landed him a tougher semi-final matchup. Their exchange sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown, blending respect, mind games, and fierce competition.
**Price’s High Praise for Littler**
Gerwyn Price, a former world champion, didn’t hold back in lauding Littler’s meteoric rise. Speaking after his 6-3 win over Littler in the Nottingham Night Six final in March 2025, Price said, “Luke has been phenomenal for darts. He’s done wonders for the sport.” He acknowledged Littler’s dominance, adding, “He’s one of the best in the world and he’s going to be for the next few years. He’s going to get better and better. Only the younger generations can stop him, we can’t stop him.” Price’s words reflect Littler’s transformative impact, with the teenager’s 2025 World Championship win at age 17 and record-breaking Premier League campaign drawing unprecedented attention to darts. Despite holding a 7-6 head-to-head edge, including six consecutive victories until April 2025, Price sees Littler as a future “untouchable” force.
**Littler’s Cheeky ‘Mistake’ Comment**
Never one to shy away from a verbal spar, Littler seized on Price’s costly slip-up during the Sheffield Premier League night on May 22, 2025. Leading Chris Dobey 5-1 in the quarter-finals, Price missed two match darts, losing 6-5. This defeat dropped him to fourth in the standings, pitting him against top-seeded Littler in the semi-finals instead of Luke Humphries. Littler, fresh off his sixth nightly win and a record 45-point season, couldn’t resist a dig, saying, “Gezzy was 5-1 up, if he won that game he would have been third. Is that a mistake? Certainly, I am ready for next week. He has the record against me, but it is the O2.” Littler’s taunt, delivered with a grin, aimed to rattle Price, who had beaten him 6-3 in Leeds on May 8, 2025, but lost 6-4 in Manchester on April 10, 2025.
**The Rivalry: Respect Meets Rivalry**
Their rivalry, marked by mutual respect and competitive fire, has been a highlight of the 2025 Premier League. Price, 40, leans on his experience and mental toughness, telling talkSPORT, “I’m thinking I’m going to win. I’ve got a good record over young Luke, and he’ll be thinking about it more than I will.” He brushed off Littler’s recent wins, noting, “It was going to come to an end at some point, so I’d rather he has won two than be 8-0 up and him turn me over at the O2.” Littler, undeterred, has embraced the challenge, admitting Price is the one player he struggles to unsettle. His 2025 form—six nightly wins, a 155 checkout in Sheffield, and a nine-darter against Michael van Gerwen in Cardiff—makes him the favorite, but Price’s clinical doubles (6/11 in Nottingham) and big-stage pedigree keep the matchup razor-close.
Price’s confidence was evident in an Instagram post after Sheffield, where he wrote, “I just wanna play first next week. Gives me more time to rest for the final,” signaling his belief in defeating Littler and advancing. His season highlights include nightly wins in Dublin, Nottingham, and Liverpool, with a 104.43 average in the latter’s final against Humphries. Littler, however, has countered with scoring power, averaging 103.39 in Nottingham despite the loss, and his 45-point haul dwarfs Price’s fourth-place finish.
**Price’s Past and Present**
Price’s fiery competitiveness, once a liability, has been refined since his 2018 Grand Slam of Darts controversy, where he incurred a £21,500 fine and three-month suspended ban for aggressive behavior against Simon Whitlock and Gary Anderson. That incident, fueled by gamesmanship and heated clashes, led to a partial fine reduction on appeal and a career reset. Price credits his current mental clarity for his edge over Littler, saying, “I can’t control what anybody else does on stage apart from myself.” His ability to avoid further sanctions, despite a warned fine for walking out of a 2024 event over “pathetic conditions,” shows maturity.
**Littler’s Meteoric Rise**
Littler’s 2025 has been historic. Crowned the youngest PDC world champion, he followed with a UK Open title and a record-setting Premier League campaign. His 6-3 win over Humphries in Sheffield and 11-7 triumph in the 2024 Premier League final, complete with a nine-darter, cement his status as darts’ biggest star. Yet, Price’s 7-6 record, including a 6-4 Dublin win where Littler threw his darts case in frustration, proves the Welshman remains a thorn in his side.
**Broader Sports Parallels**
Price’s praise and Littler’s retort echo dynamics in other sports. Alex de Minaur’s push against ATP’s grueling schedule mirrors Price’s past battles with darts’ governing body, both seeking fairness. Alexander Zverev’s scrutiny for excuses contrasts with Price’s no-nonsense approach, while Jack Grealish’s career crossroads and Emma Raducanu’s adaptation reflect Littler’s navigation of fame. Littler’s blocked ranking leap against Humphries, due to PDC rules, parallels the structural challenges Price has overcome.
**What’s at Stake**
The winner of the Price-Littler semi-final advances to face either Humphries or Nathan Aspinall for the £275,000 top prize. For Littler, a repeat of his 2024 title would push his 2025 earnings past £1 million, including his £500,000 World Championship haul. For Price, a victory would cement his resurgence and potentially end Littler’s O2 reign. With Price’s experience clashing against Littler’s fearless form, the semi-final promises drama.
**Conclusion**
Gerwyn Price hailed Luke Littler as “phenomenal” for revolutionizing darts, but Littler hit back, calling Price’s Sheffield stumble a “mistake” that set up their May 29, 2025, Premier League semi-final. Price’s 7-6 record and mental edge meet Littler’s six nightly wins and 45-point season in a clash of generations. Their mutual respect, laced with mind games, mirrors battles like de Minaur’s, Zverev’s, Grealish’s, and Raducanu’s. With a final berth and £275,000 on the line, the O2 awaits a thriller. Catch it live on Sky Sports at 7:00 PM BST.
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