At the Premier League Darts night in Berlin, Luke Littler suffered a shocking 6-2 defeat at the hands of Chris Dobey, ending his six-match winning streak in emphatic fashion. The 17-year-old, who had been dominating the 2025 campaign, posted his lowest average of the season at just 93.28 and converted only 15% of his checkout attempts. Sky Sports commentators Wayne Mardle and Mark Webster were left baffled by Littler’s unusually lacklustre performance, with Mardle exclaiming, “What is going on?”
The atmosphere in the Mercedes-Benz Arena was intense, partly due to Dobey’s controversial choice of walk-on music: “L’Amour Toujours” by Gigi D’Agostino. The song has recently been associated with far-right groups in Germany, which led to initial boos from the 12,000-strong crowd. Despite the backlash, the audience later joined in singing along, creating an odd contrast between criticism and celebration.
While Littler struggled, it was a night to remember for Stephen Bunting. The 2014 Lakeside World Champion finally claimed his first-ever win in the Premier League, producing a stellar run through the night. Bunting edged out Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals before toppling world number one Luke Humphries in the semis. In the final, he held his nerve to defeat Gerwyn Price 6-5 in a thrilling decider.
Following his victory, Bunting paid tribute to Lionel Messi by recreating the football legend’s iconic World Cup celebration photo—lying in bed cradling his trophy. He posted the image on social media, calling the win a “dream come true” and thanking fans for their unwavering support.
The win earned Bunting his first five points of the campaign, lifting him off the bottom of the Premier League standings and putting him just two points behind Dobey. With momentum on his side, he now looks ahead to Night 10 in Manchester with renewed confidence.
As for Littler, the Berlin loss capped off a tough week, coming just days after a Players Championship 9 exit at the hands of veteran Ian White. Visibly frustrated and jeered by parts of the crowd, the teenage star will be looking to bounce back quickly as he prepares for a high-profile clash with Gerwyn Price in Manchester.
