Luke Littler was inconsolable after winning the Premier League (Image: Sky Sports)
Luke Littler couldn’t hold back the tears during an emotional Sky Sports interview after winning his second Premier League title. The Nuke had to dig extremely deep to take the crown, with both the semi-final against Gerwyn Price and the final against Luke Humphries going to last-leg deciders.
Littler boasted a sensational 111 average during the final against Humphries and held his nerve to win during what was his third consecutive Premier League final. However, when Littler was put in front of a microphone, he was unable to hold it together, with the teenager bursting into tears just moments into his Sky Sports interview.
Before the tears came, Littler managed to say: “It was a rollercoaster first four weeks, bottom of the table, but then the fifth night I won my first night. I had to pick myself up, some tough times. I think I had a 79 average in Brighton or something like that and it was tough. But I am here with the trophy.”
The tears quickly followed, with Humphries stepping in to do his interview in the meantime. By the time Littler had composed himself, the Nuke returned.
How did the Littler vs Humphries Premier League final play out?
There was nothing to separate the two players early on as they traded legs against the throw, waiting for the other to crack under pressure. Humphries eventually secured a brilliant hold with a 134 checkout before completing another break to move 5-3 ahead and force Littler on the back foot.
Cool Hand continued to shine with a 121 finish on the bullseye to wrap up his third leg on the bounce, putting himself in full control of the match. From there, Littler responded with two 11-darters to pull himself within one leg of his rival, but missed the opportunity to draw level as Humphries broke again.
The Nuke eventually managed to get on level terms at 7-7 before the two players traded the next couple of legs, with very little between them. Littler then wasted two opportunities to move ahead as Humphries held on D4 to edge in front once more. But his lead didn’t last long as the reigning world champion nailed D20 to answer back at the first opportunity.
He was two away from a nine-darter in the 19th leg, missing T17, but he still managed to nick it and move within one leg of victory and another Premier League title. It left Humphries needing to break throw to force a last-leg decider and he duly delivered, hitting D4 after a missed match dart from Littler.
With everything on the line, Littler held his nerve on D20 to wrap up his second Premier League triumph and cement his status as the world’s best player.
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