Luke Littler Sets Premier League Record After Confronting Fan Incident
Luke Littler delivered some of his best darts on Night 4 of the Premier League, shrugging off a tense pre-match moment to set a new tournament record.
The 18-year-old, known as ‘The Nuke,’ was in imperious form on Thursday night, averaging over 112 against Stephen Bunting and nearly 110 against Nathan Aspinall to reach the nightly final. Although he ultimately fell to Luke Humphries, Littler’s dominant displays reaffirmed his status among the world’s elite.
His performance was even more remarkable considering he arrived in Exeter feeling under the weather. Concerns about his mindset only grew after an incident involving his mother before his quarter-final clash with Bunting.
As Littler approached to embrace his mum, a spectator attempted to grab his attention, seemingly pushing him in the process. The teenager responded with an icy stare, shaking his head and mouthing “no” as security intervened.
Any worries that the altercation might rattle him were quickly dispelled. Littler produced a stunning display against Bunting, averaging 104.89 and smashing in 10 maximums—setting a new Premier League record for a first-to-six-leg match. Bunting, who managed six 180s of his own, contributed to a combined total of 16, another record-breaking feat.
Littler’s ability to remain unfazed by distractions was on full display as he dispatched Bunting 6-3 before dismantling Aspinall 6-2. However, his run came to an end in the final, where Humphries finally secured his first Premier League victory over the world No. 2, extending his lead at the top of the table.
“Littler played fantastic tonight,” Humphries told Sky Sports. “[He] didn’t play that great in the final, and I managed to put my foot on the gas right at the end of the legs. It’s the first time I’ve beaten him in the Premier League.
“It gets harder every time you lose. In Glasgow, I had that problem with my finger, but this time I felt fresh, and nothing could stop me. My finishing is what helped me.”
