LUKE LITTLER CROWNED a third Premier League win of the season with a nine-dart leg in his 6-4 final win over Michael van Gerwen.
Littler drove the Cardiff crowd wild with perfect darts in the fourth leg, and the 18-year-old had to be at his brilliant best to ward off a revitalised Van Gerwen.
The world champion hit a remarkable 10 180s and returned a match average of 112.50 to extend his Premier League lead to six points.
“I didn’t even realise the double 15 was in until Huw (Ware, referee) shouted it,” said reigning Premier League champion Littler of his final shot.
“I hit one two weeks ago at the Pro Tour and I went the treble 17, double 15 route after missing double 12 numerous times last year.
“So I think that’s the new route to go for this year.
“You’ve seen players in the world championships hit the nine and go out in that game, so I had to focus after that.
“Michael won the next two legs but I managed to get back into it.
“It’s good to pick up another nightly win, more crucial points, and to have a six-point over Luke (Humphries) is a good boost for myself.”
In a match of the highest quality – Van Gerwen also hit four maximums and averaged 101.41 – Littler set the pattern by breaking the first throw of the match in 15 darts.
Van Gerwen responded instantly, but Littler broke again in 12 darts before extending a two-leg cushion with his perfect leg.
The see-saw nature of the continued as Van Gerwen levelled with the help of a bullseye finish, but Littler replied in kind and moved through the gears after being pulled back at 4-4.
Littler had earlier defeated Rob Cross 6-2 at the semi-final stage after eliminating Nathan Aspinall 6-3 in low-key affair in his first game.
Van Gerwen conquered Chris Dobey and Humphries to reach his first Premier League final of the season.
Dobey was no match for Van Gerwen in his 6-2 semi-final defeat, but the Dutchman showed extraordinary resilience to stun Humphries.
World number out Humphries took out 121 in the opening leg and led 3-0 and 4-1.
But Van Gerwen turned the tide with 10 and 11-dart legs and rattled off five straight legs to win.
Gerwyn Price’s homecoming fell flat as Rob Cross silenced the Welsh crowd with a dramatic 6-5 victory.
The Iceman fought back to level after trailing 5-2, but Cross took out 170 in the decider with Price waiting on a double.
Stephen Bunting suffered a 6-2 quarter-final defeat to Dobey and remains rock bottom without a point.
Be surprised if the line up like that. More likely cooper in full back line, O’Sullivan at half back line. Also be surprised if mccaffrey is not in half back line.
@Augustus hoop:
As usual,the “real” team will not line out as selected.I dont know why Jim Gavin does thos all the time.Are we getting any advantage by naming these dummy teams?Obviously Jim thinks we are.Doubt McCaffrey is playing up front and if he starts it will be in the backs with one of the selected back six dropping to the bench.Suppose it’s a bit of a talking point for us fans but we’ll have to wait until just before throw-in to find out.
@mark kenny: true cant see the value in this dummy team … can see mick fitz drop out lowndes cooper go to full back line and small mccaffery and cian o sullivan in h/ back line a half forward come in for fitz could be flynn/or kev mac
@Liam Murphy:
Yea it’s hard to second guess Jim but i’ll have a guess at the back seven
1 Cluxton
2 McMahon
3 Fitzimmons
4 Lowndes
5 McCaffrey
6 O Sullivan
7 Small
@mark kenny: no cooper so who plays in the forward line when jack mac comes back
@Liam Murphy:
Maybe Scully.It’s only a guess,though.Who knows what Jim will do?Bernard probably did enough the last day to start but maybe he’s better coming off the bench.
What a joke
Dublin could play their U21 squad up until at least the semifinals giving the poor standard of this competition.these backdoor mickey Mouse games with teams that have no hope of making it to the final
@Jamie: their u21s would not win today’s game. Would their u21s beat Kildare?
@Patrick O’Sullivan: yes they would on both questions
@Jamie: Yea why don’t they just put Dublin straight into the final every year
@Jamie: i think you are wrong lad. There 21s would definitely not beat monaghan.
McCafferry will go back and mark O’Sullivan man and he will be sweeper then