Littler beats Humphries in epic Premier League final

World champion Luke Littler was in tears after producing one of his finest displays to exact revenge on Luke Humphries and regain the Premier League in one of the competition's greatest finals.

In a repeat of the previous two finals, the sport's best players showcased an unbelievable level of quality in front of 16,000 at The O2 as Littler came out on top with an 11-10 victory.

The 19-year-old averaged 111 and landed 12 maximums, while world number two Humphries finished with an average of 105 and three 100+ checkouts.

"It's been a rollercoaster," an emotional Littler told Sky Sports on stage.

"The first four weeks at the bottom, on the fifth night won my first night. I had to pick myself up. I think I went to Brighton and had a 79 average.

"It was tough - I was down bad. I'm here with the trophy."

After a missed match dart by Littler, a deciding leg was needed to separate the English rivals.

Against the throw, with defending champion Humphries down to a one-dart finish, Littler landed his final arrow in double 20 to end an epic showdown and lift the title for a second time after his 2024 success.

Littler explained how he had also questioned his future after his earlier struggles as he added: "After Brighton, I think I came off stage and the incident in Manchester [argument with Gian van Veen], I was sat at home saying to Faith [his partner], 'I don't want to do it anymore, just the crowd every week'.

"I said to her, 'I'm down bad'."

But from that low, he was on a high after the 36th, and perhaps best, meeting with Humphries, who will be Littler's partner for England in June's World Cup.

He wins £350,000 in prize money for winning the event and claims an extra £60,000 for his six night wins in the league phase.

Already a two-time world champion, the teenager has gone from strength to strength in 2026 as he added the Premier League to his world title, World Masters and UK Open this year.

Littler holds seven of the eight ranking titles that the Professional Darts Corporation have, plus now the Premier League.

A dramatic night began with Gerwyn Price forcing Littler to show why he is the world number one in the first semi-final.

Littler looked home and dry after walking off the stage at the interval with a 6-4 lead before putting three more legs on the board.

But Price's response was superb. The Welshman won five legs in a row - with three 100+ checkouts - to take the match to a final-leg decider.

Littler took control of it with a 180, before landing double 16 to seal his spot in a third Premier League final.

While he was able to relax backstage before the final, defending champion Humphries and 2021 winner Jonny Clayton were involved in a titanic tussle of their own in the second semi-final.

After a confident opening, Humphries went into the break with a 6-4 advantage but, just like his Welsh compatriot Price, Clayton did not go down without a fight.

With a checkout rate of 28%, the 31-year-old Humphries faced defeat, but a stunning 121 finish forced another deciding leg to settle the outcome.

And that was full of drama too as Humphries and Clayton exchanged a missed match dart each, before 'Cool Hand' set up his shot at Littler and the chance to go back-to-back.

Semi-finals

Luke Littler 10-9 Gerwyn Price

Jonny Clayton 9-10 Luke Humphries

Final

Littler 11-10 Humphries