Luke Littler’s Premier League Darts campaign setback
Luke Littler’s Premier League Darts campaign hit a setback on Thursday evening as the teenage world champion fell 6-4 to Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals whilst struggling with illness, reports BritPanorama.
The 19-year-old appeared far from his usual self during the Antwerp encounter, later revealing he had been fighting flu symptoms throughout the night.
The loss leaves the youngster positioned in the middle of the table following the opening fortnight of competition. Before facing Van Gerwen, Littler had secured his passage through the quarter-finals with a dramatic comeback victory against Luke Humphries, who had taken a commanding 4-1 lead.
Humphries squandered three opportunities to close out the contest, missing match darts that would have ended Littler’s evening far earlier. The match ultimately went to a deciding leg, where Littler prevailed, extending his remarkable dominance over Humphries to five consecutive victories.
The semi-final proved a back-and-forth affair with neither player able to establish sustained control. Van Gerwen struck first, breaking Littler’s throw immediately, though the teenager responded in kind. Littler edged ahead with a clinical 107 checkout, but the Dutchman drew level before breaking again to lead 3-2 after Littler narrowly missed the bullseye for a 170 finish.
The pattern continued with both players trading breaks, reaching 4-4 before the crucial moment arrived. Littler failed to convert three attempts at double six, allowing Van Gerwen to break once more and move 5-4 ahead before sealing victory on double 16.
Taking to Instagram after the evening’s action concluded, Littler struck an optimistic tone about his campaign despite the semi-final disappointment. He posted: “First points on the board and still a lot more to come this season. See you soon Scotland.”
Sky Sports pundit Laura Turner urged both Littler and Humphries not to panic after their underwhelming starts, noting the tournament’s demanding nature and warning that concerns would only mount if their struggles extended into weeks three and four. How the young players bounce back will be crucial as they seek to regain momentum in a fiercely competitive environment.
