Teenage superstar Luke Littler claimed bragging rights over reigning world champion Luke Humphries after a dramatic final-leg win in the quarter-finals of the Dutch Darts Masters.
In a first meeting between the pair since their epic World Championship final on January 3, it was Littler who came out on top to continue his bid for a second World Series title in as many weeks.
Littler battled back from 4-2 down to claim a 6-5 win and book his spot in the semi-finals at De Maaspoort in Den Bosch, as world No 1 Humphries – looking for a maiden World Series title – was left heading for a last-eight exit.
“Happy with the way I played,” Littler told ITV. “I went 2-0 up and I think I fell asleep for the next four legs. Then I got back into it and I think that I played well with my finish and my scoring, so I’m happy.”
Littler edges Humphries in world final repeat
Humphries had reached Saturday’s quarter-finals after a ruthless 6-0 whitewash of Jermaine Wattimena the previous evening, while Littler – who won in Bahrain last week – saw off Dirk van Duijvenbode with an impressive 6-2 success.
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Highlights of the 2024 World Darts Championship final between World number one Luke Humphries and teenage sensation Luke Littler.
Littler – with the darts – took out D20 to hold throw in the opening leg with a 16-darter after Humphries missed two chances at double, then fired tops-tops for a 105 checkout to break an out-of-sorts world No 1 in impressive fashion.
Last week’s Bahrain Darts Masters champion wasted two opportunities to open a three-leg advantage, allowing Humphries to break back by pinning in D3, with the world champion then holding in the next to level the contest.
Luke Humphries led 4-2 against Littler before being eliminated
Humphries took out an 83 finish and added a 108 checkout to register a fourth straight leg, before Littler stopped the rot by registering the first of back-to-back 14-dart legs to level the match at 4-4.
Littler edged ahead by taking out 36 for another 14-darter but missed three match darts in the next leg to allow Humphries to take the contest to a decider, where the rising star sealed an impressive victory by taking out an 88 checkout on the bullseye.
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What’s next for Humphries and Littler?
Littler and Humphries only have to wait until Thursday to meet again, with the pair closing out the quarter-final fixtures at the opening night of the BetMGM Premier League in Cardiff.
Reigning champion Van Gerwen begins his bid for a record-extending eighth Premier League crown against last year’s world champion Michael Smith, while Peter Wright opens against Rob Cross and Gerwyn Price takes on Nathan Aspinall.
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Check out how MVG won a record-breaking seventh Premier League title in style at the O2 in London last May
The Premier League consists of 16 mini-events during the regular season for players to earn points, with each league night comprising quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final over the best of 11 legs.
Players receive two points per semi-final appearance, three points per runner-up finish and five points per final win, with the top four in the season-long standings then progressing to the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on Thursday May 23.
Premier League Darts returns to Sky Sports on Thursday, February 1 as Cardiff kicks off the 17-week extravaganza all the way through to the Play-Offs on Thursday, May 23. Stream darts and more on Sky Sports without a contract through NOW