Luke Littler into Premier League Darts FINAL after stunning win over world champ Luke Humphries in Berlin
LUKE LITTLER edged past Luke Humphries in a tight encounter to reach the Premier League final in Berlin.
The pair played some of the best darts of the night but one bad leg from Littler threatened to give Humphries the win.
The world champion broke Littler in the fifth leg to lead 3-2 before holding after Littler missed an opportunity at a nine-darter.
But The Nuke hit back with a break of his own to seize back the initiative.
The pair then each held throw until the final leg, and Littler held his nerve, finishing off on his favourite double ten to reach the final.
In the previous round Littler narrowly beat Rob Cross to reach the semi-final after holding his throw to edge out Voltage 6-5.
The teenage sensation hit 180 with his very first shot and never looked back as rattled off the first leg in no time at all.
He then missed a Shanghai finish to break as Cross levelled up at 1-1, but bounced back by hitting bullseye to win the third leg.
Littler, 17, then pulled off his first break of the match with a 12-darter that ended up with The Nuke taking out double 16.
However Cross showed he was no walkover by breaking back at the first time of asking before holding throw to restore parity at 3-3.
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
The pair then each held throw with Cross nailing a 144 finish in style, only for Littler to go 5-4 ahead after hitting his favourite double 10.
Cross levelled the match once more despite missing three attempts at double, leaving a deciding leg.
Littler had the throw and looked in control throughout the leg – even a dart falling out of the board did not deter him as he hit double 15 with his first attempt to reach the semi-final.
Cross put up a fight but came undone by Littler once again, having lost to the Warrington wonderkid at the World Darts Championship last month.
Littler was not quite at his scintillating best but still averaged 104 to see out a close contest.
Littler now has five points to boast of after reaching the final of the Premier League for the first time – having lost to eventual victor Michael Smith in last week’s semi-final.
But he had to settle for just three points on Night Two as he lost a tense final against Michael van Gerwen after missing two shots to win the match.