Luke Littler experienced another dramatic night on the darts stage as he secured the 2026 Premier League Darts title at London's O2 Arena on Thursday. The 19-year-old world champion first navigated a challenging semi-final against Gerwyn Price, which included a controversial moment that captured widespread attention.
Semi-Final Incident with Gerwyn Price
During the semi-final, Price celebrated a remarkable 170 checkout with his signature "big fish" gesture while Littler was preparing for his next throw. This action frustrated Littler, who immediately approached referee Huw Ware to voice his concerns. After the leg concluded, Ware intervened and issued a warning to Price. The Welsh star then walked over to Littler, offered an apology, and the two shared a brief hug before resuming the match.
Despite Price mounting a strong comeback from 9-4 down to level the score at 9-9, Littler maintained his composure and won the deciding leg to advance to the final. Reports from The Sun and talkSPORT confirmed that Price apologized following the referee's intervention.
Final Victory Over Luke Humphries
In the final, Littler faced long-time rival Luke Humphries in a repeat of last year's Premier League final. The match went down to the wire, with Littler emerging victorious 11-10 in another last-leg thriller. The win earned him the Premier League trophy and the £350,000 winner's prize.
Emotional Aftermath
Following his victory, Littler became emotional during an interview with Sky Sports. He fought back tears while discussing the difficult moments he faced during the Premier League season. He said: "After Brighton I came off stage and the incident in Manchester. I was sat at home saying to Faith, 'I don't want to do it anymore, just the crowd every week'. I said to her I'm down bad."
As fans inside the O2 Arena chanted his name, Luke Humphries walked over to comfort him. Littler's partner, Faith, was also seen emotional in the crowd. Littler revealed that criticism and crowd reactions had affected him throughout the season and even made him contemplate walking away from the competition.
Previous Tensions with Gian van Veen
The semi-final incident added another chapter to a season that has not always been easy for Littler. Only weeks earlier, he had been involved in a heated exchange with Gian van Veen during a Premier League match in Manchester. Van Veen later claimed that Littler celebrated after he missed a dart at double 15. The situation created tension between the two players, and Littler recently admitted they had still not spoken since that disagreement.
Upcoming World Cup of Darts
In two weeks, Littler and Humphries will set aside their rivalry when they team up for England at the World Cup of Darts.
