"One of the best finals the Premier League has ever seen": Luke Humphries shows humility in lieu of Littler Premier League final loss

Luke Humphries came agonisingly close on Thursday evening to defending his Premier League title, but in a historic final he ultimately had to surrender 11–10 to world champion Luke Littler at The O2 Arena.

Despite the painful defeat, Humphries reacted with remarkable sportsmanship afterwards. The Englishman immediately acknowledged the quality of his young compatriot and spoke with admiration about the extraordinary standard of the final, which many are already calling one of the greatest matches ever seen in Premier League Darts.

For Humphries, there was more at stake on Thursday night than just another title. The reigning champion had the opportunity to join a very exclusive group. Only Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen had previously managed to successfully defend their Premier League crown. Humphries hoped to become just the third player ever to achieve that feat.

For a long time, that dream looked realistic. Humphries played a phenomenal final and, despite the defeat, recorded an average of nearly 106. He also produced several world-class finishes, including checkouts of 134, 121, and 112.

Yet even that level ultimately proved insufficient against a relentless Littler, who may have delivered the best match of his career with a 111.67 average and twelve maximums.

Afterwards, Humphries appeared visibly disappointed in front of the cameras, but there was absolutely no frustration directed toward his opponent. On the contrary, the world number two was full of praise for Littler and the quality of the match.

“Luke played a brilliant game, so fair play to him,” said Humphries. "I’m not sure of the stats, but it was probably one of the best finals the Premier League has seen.

With that statement, Humphries perfectly captured what many darts fans inside the O2 Arena and watching at home were feeling. The final featured hardly any weak moments, while both players constantly piled pressure on each other with heavy scoring, rapid-fire legs, and spectacular finishes.

From start to finish, the standard was exceptionally high. Humphries stormed out of the blocks with two consecutive 13-darters, while Littler later produced three 11-dart legs and threw a sensational 10-darter at a crucial moment in the match.

Still, one moment in particular continued to haunt Humphries: the match dart Littler missed in the 20th leg. Leading 10–9, Littler had a chance to secure the title on double 20, but narrowly missed. Humphries immediately capitalised and coolly took out a 68 finish to force a deciding leg.

“I’m gutted he didn’t miss that dart at tops,” Humphries joked with a wry smile.

Although he ultimately lost the deciding leg, Humphries once again showed his remarkable resilience. Even when the title appeared virtually gone, he fought his way back into the contest one final time.

Despite the disappointment, Humphries also reflected proudly on his overall Premier League season afterwards. The Englishman did not always enjoy a flawless campaign and had to battle hard throughout the season to secure another play-off spot. Yet when it mattered most, he delivered once again, producing a final that will likely be talked about for years to come.

"I’m incredibly proud of the way I managed to come back and get myself to The O2.

“It’s been a great campaign in the end, and I’ll look forward to next year and the World Matchplay, and I’ll try and run him close again!”

Those words further underline the rivalry currently developing between Humphries and Littler. The two English superstars have contested several major finals against one another in recent years and currently appear to set the benchmark in world darts.

Thursday night’s Premier League final felt in many ways like the latest chapter in a rivalry that could dominate the sport for years to come. In 2024, Littler beat Humphries in the Premier League final, before Humphries gained revenge a year later by winning the 2025 showpiece. This latest deciding encounter once again went Littler’s way, earning him his second Premier League title.

Still, Humphries proved with his performance in London that he can more than live with the sensational standard produced by his young rival. In fact, with an average of nearly 106, Humphries would comfortably have won almost any other televised tournament on another night. Only an exceptional Littler denied him further success.