Littler “better watch his back” ahead of Premier League season

Reigning champion Luke Humphries said Luke Littler “better watch his back” ahead of the new BetMGM Premier League season.

This year’s campaign is back on Thursday with Newcastle hosting the opening night of 17-week schedule in venues across the UK, Ireland and Europe.

After clinching his fist major of 2026 in the World Masters, “The Nuke” is 8/13 to win the Premier League.

His focus is firmly set on regaining the title after losing in the final to Humphries last year, despite registering a higher average.

He said: “We can focus on the European Tour and the World Cup [of Darts] when it comes to that time, but I’m looking forward to the Premier League now.

“That [European Championship] is obviously the main goal for this year, but obviously another goal is to go and get the Premier League trophy back.”

An incoming rematch

He’ll face Premier League debutant Gian Van Veen in the Quarter Finals, a rematch against the player he beat 7-1 on sets in the World Championship final.

The World number one and back-to-back reigning World Champion has already clinched his and the first major of the calendar year.

Littler beat Luke Humphries 6-5 in an entertaining final in Milton Keynes to win the PDC World Masters.

Following his triumph, Littler said: “I was fully focused and managed to get the job done.

“It has been a weird week and tough at times but this is why we battle every game and every leg, and I’ve come out victorious.

“It has been me and Luke in the first major of the year and I’m sure it will continue.”

Littler’s recent major win has him tied-third in the all-time standings on 11 PDC major wins alongside James Wade.

With a victory in the final at the O2 in London in May, he could become the youngest player ever to win the Premier League twice.

(Featured image by DARTS NOW, via Wikimedia Commons, free under Creative Commons licence)