Luke Littler showed his resilience as he edged out Luke Humphries 6-5 on night two of the Premier League, securing a hard-fought victory in front of a passionate Glasgow crowd. The 18-year-old battled through a tense final, recovering from a 5-4 deficit to claim the last two sets and seal the win. However, the lively atmosphere at the OVO Hydro proved to be a challenge, with Littler expressing frustration over the handling of the crowd noise.
At one point, referee Kirk Bevins intervened over the microphone in an attempt to quiet the jeering and whistling that had initially been directed at Humphries. However, rather than calming the situation, Littler believed it only intensified the disruption. “There were a few in particular that were doing it when Luke was throwing,” he explained. “Kirk told them to be quiet, and it got even worse, and then I missed doubles and Luke breaks at 5-4. I’m just like, ‘Kirk, you’ve made it worse for me there.’ But I broke back.”
Despite the distraction, Littler showed his class under pressure. His journey to the final had already been dramatic, as he staged an impressive comeback in the quarter-finals. Facing Rob Cross, he found himself 5-1 down but mounted a sensational recovery to take five consecutive sets and win 6-5. That victory set up a semi-final clash against Michael van Gerwen, where Littler delivered one of his best performances of the night, comfortably defeating the Dutchman 6-2.
His rivalry with Van Gerwen has quickly become a major talking point in the competition, with both players eager to assert dominance. “It’s just the case of we both want to win,” Littler said. “I think everyone knows that I’m a quick starter, and that’s probably the second time that I’ve got a massive lead on Michael. And then obviously, Michael got a few legs on the board, but I was just too good for him. Especially losing in the way I did last week, I just wanted to put it right this time. And that’s what I did. I got more points on the board and then I beat Luke.”
Littler’s strong start to this year’s Premier League is a stark contrast to last season when it took him nine weeks to register his first victory. However, that slow beginning did not stop him from eventually winning the tournament outright. This time around, he is determined to make an impact much earlier. “It took me eight or nine weeks last year, but during that I was always fourth or fifth, picking up points. To pick up maximum points on week two is really good,” he said.
Humphries had also navigated a tricky path to the final, overcoming Chris Dobey 6-4 in the quarter-finals. Dobey had previously been his opponent in the opening night final in Belfast, where Humphries emerged victorious. In the semi-finals, he faced Gerwyn Price, who had defeated Nathan Aspinall 6-4 in the previous round. The match between Humphries and Price was a back-and-forth battle, but Humphries found an extra gear, winning four consecutive legs to take it 6-4.
Despite his impressive run, Humphries could not overcome Littler in the final, as the teenager displayed his growing maturity and ability to handle high-pressure situations. With his first win of the campaign secured early, Littler has already set himself up as one of the main contenders for this year’s title.Littler Battles Past Humphries to Claim Premier League Victory in Glasgow
